Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Does Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Optimism/pessimism Predict Psychological Well-being?

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Happiness Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study we examined the associations between perceived emotional intelligence, dispositional optimism/pessimism and psychological well-being. In addition to correlational analyses, we examined a model by structural equation modeling (SEM). The study of psychological well-being in the field of positive psychology from the paradigmatic approach to happiness developed by Ryff and Singer (Psychother Psychosomat 65(1):14–23, 1998) is very important and essential, due in part to the lack of studies analyzing the predictors of Ryff’s PWB model by contemplating emotional and cognitive factors. In this framework, our study examines the possible role of optimism and PEI as possible predictors of the psychological well-being dimensions proposed by Ryff, with a specific pattern of relationships as a model. Our results show positive relationships between clarity and emotional regulation and the psychological well-being components. With regard to dispositional optimism versus pessimism, positive relationships were found between optimism and psychological well-being dimensions and negative relationships between pessimism and dimensions of psychological well-being. Our model also includes some relationships, not initially raised, between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and some dimensions of psychological well-being. Our results suggest relationships between emotional attention and purpose in life as well as with personal growth dimensions of psychological well-being. Implications and limitations are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Augusto Landa, J. M., Aguilar Luzón, M. C., & Salguero de Ugarte, M. F. (2008). El papel de la IEP y del optimismo/pesismismo disposicional en la resolución de problemas sociales: Un estudio con alumnos de Trabajo Social. Revista Electrónica de Investigación Psicoeducativa, 6(2), 363–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Augusto, J. M., López-Zafra, E., Berrios, M. P., & Aguilar-Luzón, M. C. (2008). The relationship between emotional intelligence, occupational stress and health in nurses, a questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(6), 888–901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avia, M. D., & Vázquez, C. y. (1999). Optimismo Inteligente. Psicología de las emociones positivas. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar-On, R. (2000). Emotional and social intelligence. Insights from the emotional quotient inventory. In R. Bar-On & J. D. A. Parker (Eds.), The handbook of emotional intelligence. Theory, development, assessment, and application at home, school, and the workplace (pp. 363–388). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar-On, R. (2006). The Bar-On model of emotional-social intelligence (ESI). Psicothema, 18, 13–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastian, V. A., Burns, N. R., & Nettelbeck, T. (2005). Emotional intelligence predicts life skills, but not as well as personality and cognitive abilities. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 1135–1145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brackett, M. A., & Mayer, J. D. (2003). Convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity of competing measures of emotional intelligence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29(9), 1147–1158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradburn, N. (1969). The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmeli, A., Yitzhak-Halevy, M., & Wisberg, (2009). The relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological wellbeing. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 24(1), 66–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C., & Scheier, M. (2001). Optimism, pessimism, and self-regulation. In E. Chang (Ed.), Optimism and pessimism. Implications for theory, research and practice (pp. 31–51). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Catanzaro, S. J., Wasch, H. H., Kirsch, I., & Mearns, J. (2000). Coping-related expectancies and dispositions as prospective predictors of coping responses and symptoms. Journal of Personality, 68, 757–788.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, E. C. (2001). Introduction: optimism and pessimism and moving beyond the most fundamental question. In E. C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism and pessimism. Implications for theory, research and practice (pp. 4–12). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, E. C., Maydeu-Olivares, A., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1997). Optimism and pessimism as partially independent constructs: Relations to positive and negative affectivity and psychological well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 23, 433–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, E. C., Sanna, L. J., & y Yang, K. M. (2003). Optimism, pessimism, affectivity and psychological adjustement in US and Korea: A test of a mediation model. Personality and Individual Differences, 34, 1195–1208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (2010). Subjective wellbeing, homeostatically protectd mood and depression: A synthesis. Journal of Happiness Studies: an interdisciplinary forum on subjective well-being, 11, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davern, M., Cummins, R., & Stokes, M. (2007). Subjective wellbeing as an affective-cognitive construct. Journal of Happiness Studies: an interdisciplinary forum on subjective well-being, 8, 429–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz, D., Rodríguez, R., Blanco, A., Moreno, B., Gallardo, I., Valle, C., et al. (2006). Spanish adaptation of the psychological well-being scales (PWBS). Psicothema, 18, 572–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture, and subjective well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 403–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eid, M., & Diener, E. (2004). Global judgments of subjective well-being: Situational variability and long term stability. Social Indicators Research, 65, 245–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Extremera, M., Durán, A., & Rey, L. (2007). Perceived emotional intelligence and dispositional optimism-pessimism: Analyzing their role in predicting psychological adjustment among adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 1069–1079.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Extremera, N., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2005). Perceived emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: Predictive and Incremental validity using the Trait Meta mood Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 937–948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Extremera, N., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2006). Emotional intelligence as predictor of mental, social and physical health in university students. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 9, 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Berrocal, P., & Extremera, N. (2006). Emotional intelligence: A theoretical and empirical review of its first 15 years of history. Psicothema, 18, 7–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Berrocal, P., Extremera, N., & Ramos, N. (2004). Validity and reliability of the Spanish modified version of the Trait Meta Mood Scale. Psychological Reports, 94, 751–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrando, P. J., Chico, E., & Tous, J. M. (2002). Propiedades psicométricas del test de optimismo (LOT-Life Orientation Test). Psicothema, 14(3), 673–680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fierro, A. (2006). Emotional intelligence, does associate to happiness? A province outline. Ansiedad y Estres, 12(2–3), 241–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gierl, M. J., & Rogers, T. (1996). A confirmatory factor analysis of the test anxiety inventory using Canadian high school students. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 56, 315–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillham, J. E., Shatté, A. J., Reivich, K. J., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2001). Optimism, pessimism and explanatory style. In E. C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism and pessimisms. Implications for theory, research and practice (pp. 53–75). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gohm, C. L., Baumann, M. R., & Sniezek, J. A. (2001). Personality in extreme situations: Thinking (or not) under acute stress. Journal of Research in Personality, 35, 288–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gohm, C. L., & Clore, G. L. (2002). Four latent traits of emotional experience and their involvement in attributional style, coping and well-being. Cognition and Emotion, 16, 495–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. Bantam: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgs, S., & Dulewicz, V. (2008). Emotional intelligence, well-being and personality: an empirical study of their interrelationship. Southampton, University of Southampton. (Working Paper Series- Management, M-08-08).

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cut-off criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K., & Sörbom, D. (1984). Lisrel VI user’s guide (3rd ed. ed.). Mooresville, IL: Scientific Software.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C., Ryff, C., & Shmotkin, C. (2002). Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 1007–1022.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makikangas, A., & Kinnunen, U. (2003). Psychosocial work stressor and well-being: Self-esteem and optimism as moderators ina a one-year longitudinal sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 537–557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín, M. L., & Mora, J. A. (2009). Relación entre Inteligencia Emocional y personalidad en sus distintas concepciones teóricas. In P. Fernández-Berrocal, N. Extremera, R. Palomera, D. Ruiz-Aranda, J. M. Salguero, & R. Cabello (Eds.), Avances en el estudio de la Inteligencia Emocional. I Congreso Internacional de Inteligencia Emocional (pp. 91–95). Santander: Fundación Marcelino Botín.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Correa, A., Reyes del Paso, G. A., García-León, A., & González-Jareño, M. I. (2006). Optimismo/pesimismo disposicional y estrategias de afrontamiento del estrés. Psicothema, 18(1), 66–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., & Gaschke, Y. (1988). The experience and meta-experience of mood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 102–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Implications for educators (pp. 3–31). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2000). Models of emotional intelligence. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Handbook of intelligence (pp. 396–420). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikolajczak, M., Nelis, D., Hansenne, M., & Quoidbach, J. (2008). If you can regulate sadness, you can probably regulate shame: Associations between trait emotional intelligence, emotion regulation and coping efficiency across discrete emotions. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1356–1368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulaik, S. A., James, L. R., Van Altine, J., Bennett, N., Lind, S., & Stilwell, C. D. (1989). Evaluation of goodness-of-fit indices for structural equation models. Psychological Bulletin, 105, 430–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otero, J. M., Luengo, A., Romero, E., Gómez-Fraguela, J. A., & y Castro, C. (1998). Psicología de la Personalidad. Manual de prácticas. Barcelona: Ariel Practicum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, B., Donaldson, C., & Stough, C. (2002). Emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 33, 1091–1100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrott, W. G. (2002). The functional utility of negative emotions. In L. Feldman Barrett & P. Salovey (Eds.), The wisdom in feeling: Psychological processes in emotional intelligence (pp. 341–359). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Remor, E., Amorós, M., & Carrobles, J. A. (2006). El optimismo y la experiencia de ira en relación con el malestar físico. Anales de Psicología, 22, 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. E. (2001). The be happy or to be self-fulfilled: A review of reserarch on hedonic and eudaemonic well-being. In S. Fiske (Ed.), Annual Review of Psychology (Vol. 52, pp. 141–166). Palo Alto, CA: Annual Review, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (1995). Psychological well-being in adult life. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(4), 99–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1996). Psychological well-being: meaning, measurement, and implications for psychotherapy research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 65(1), 14–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1998). The contours of positive human health. Psychological Inquiry, 9, 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C., & Singer, B. (2002). From social structure to biology. In C. Snyder & A. López (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 63–73). London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., Bedell, B. T., Detweiler, J. B., & Mayer, J. D. (1999). Coping intelligently: Emotional intelligence and the coping process. In C. R. Snyder (Ed.), Coping: The psychology of what works (pp. 141–164). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., Mayer, J. D., Goldman, S., Turvey, C., & Palfai, T. (1995). Emotional attention, clarity, and repair: Exploring emotional intelligence using the Trait Meta Mood Scale. In J. W. Pennebaker (Ed.), Emotion, disclosure and health (pp. 125–154). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., Woolery, A., Stroud, L., & Epel, E. (2002). Perceived emotional intelligence, stress reactivity and symptom reports: Furthers explorations using the Trait Meta Mood Scale. Psychology and Health, 17, 611–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, M., Carver, C., & Bridges, M. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A re-evaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1063–1078.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmutte, P. S., & Ryff, D. C. (1997). Personality and well-being: What is the connection? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 549–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte, M. J., Ree, M. J., & Carretta, T. T. (2004). Emotional intelligence: Not much more than g and personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 37, 1059–1068.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, T., & Hemenover, S. (2006). Is dispositional emotional intelligence synonymous with personality? Self and Identity, 5, 147–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, B. L., Waltz, J., Coyle, K., & Pepper, A. C. (2007). Trait meta-mood and affect as predictors of somatic symptoms and life satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 1786–1795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheaton, B. (1978). The sociogenesis of psychological disorder. American Sociological Review, 43, 383–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain

    José M. Augusto-Landa, Manuel Pulido-Martos & Esther Lopez-Zafra

Authors
  1. José M. Augusto-Landa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manuel Pulido-Martos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Esther Lopez-Zafra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José M. Augusto-Landa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Augusto-Landa, J.M., Pulido-Martos, M. & Lopez-Zafra, E. Does Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Optimism/pessimism Predict Psychological Well-being?. J Happiness Stud 12, 463–474 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9209-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9209-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation