Emotional intelligence and materialism: the mediating effect of subjective well-being

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of the relationship between emotional intelligence and materialism by exploring how subjective well-being mediates this link. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from surveying 1,000 Lithuanians within random sampling, and structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques using SmartPLS were used to analyze the data. Findings The results show that emotional intelligence not only has a negative indirect effect on materialism but also a positive impact on both dimensions of subjective well-being (satisfaction with life and affect balance). In addition, the findings indicate that both satisfaction with life and affect balance predict a decrease in materialism. Finally, the SEM analyzes show that the path between emotional intelligence and materialism is partially mediated by both satisfaction with life and affect balance. Social implications The results of this study expand the understanding to what extent and how emotional intelligence is able to assist in adjusting materialistic attitudes, which have become more prevalent with the respective growth of consumerism and consumer culture worldwide. In the light of unsustainable consumption patterns threatening the survival of humankind and nature, the opportunities that could reverse this trend are presented for marketers and policy makers. This study gives insight into the potential pathways for diminishing consumer materialism, which is considered detrimental to subjective well-being and mental health. Originality/value The relationship between emotional intelligence and subjective well-being has been well documented, as has the link between materialism and subjective well-being. However, the simultaneous examination of the relationship between emotional intelligence, subjective well-being and materialism is lacking. The current study adds to the understanding of materialism not only by examining the effect of under-researched antecedent such as emotional intelligence but also by explaining the underlying mechanism of subjective well-being by which emotional intelligence connects to materialism.

THE AFFECT BALANCE SCALE (ABS): PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES IN ARGENTINA

The Affect Balance Scale (ABS) was developed to assess the affective component of subjective well-being. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of ABS in a non-probabilistic sample composed of 2241 individuals in the general population in Argentina, ages ranging from 18 to 89 years (M = 37.53; SD = 14.80). The results suggest acceptable psychometric properties within the sample. Excellent adjustment to the data of the two-dimensional model is observed through confirmatory factor analysis. Results of the factorial invariance analysis of gender conducted indicate that both groups are equivalent in terms of the factor structure under investigation. Internal consistency was also found to be adequate. As a result, the study contributed to assessing positive and negative affect in Spanish speaking populations.

How Do Specific Social Supports (Family, Friend, and Specialist) Reduce Stress in Patients With Substance Use Disorders: A Multiple Mediation Analysis

Perceived social support has been found to reduce the stress of individuals who suffer from substance use disorders. However, the mediating effects of resilience and affect balance in the relationships between specific social supports (family, friend, and significant others) and perceived stress are still unclear. This study focused on substance use disorders (SUD) patients, exploring the mediating roles of resilience and affect balance on the relationships between three dimensions of social supports (family, friend, and specialist) and stress. Three hundred thirty-nine participants completed questionnaires of perceived social support, resilience, affect balance, and stress. After controlling resilience and affect balance, the results suggested the effects of perceived family and specialist supports on perceived stress were fully mediated, and the association between perceived friend support and perceived stress is partially mediated. The multiple mediation analysis showed resilience is significant in mediating the relationship between specific perceived supports in all models, while affect balance is only significant in mediating the relationship between specialist support and perceived stress. Implications for enriching current theoretical research and strategies for government and practitioners were also discussed.

AN INDIVIDUAL’S RELATEDNESS TO OTHER PEOPLE AND FACTORS AFFECTING IT

The article examines what personal characteristics, qualities or factors contribute to the establishment of trusting relationships between people, their support, contributing to the satisfaction of the need for relatedness, in positive relationships with others, in creating a real circle of close people. The article purpose: to identify the features of relatedness estimated with two indicators - using the indicator “positive relationships with others” of C. Riff’s six-factor scales of psychological well-being by and using the test proposed by Bekker M.H.J., van Assen M.A.L. namely by the indicator “sensitivity to others” - and find personal characteristics, qualities or factors that affect these indicators. Sampling and methods. The study involved 220 respondents with average age of 33 years, students, and specialists in various professions. To study the personality traits of respondents who showed high values ​​for the studied parameters, we used the following methods: the General Self-efficacy Scale (Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem), Folkman and Lazarus' Ways of Coping Questionnaire, Wiesbaden Inventary for Positive Psychotherapy and Family Therapy (WIPPF), S. Maddi's Hardiness Scale, Test-Questionnaire of Self-Attitude of V.V. Stolyn, S.R. Panteleyev, Social behavior and the orientation inventory (B.M. Bass), Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Study of the quality of life of a person, N. Bradburn's Affect Balance Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (E. Diener et al.). Results and conclusions. Positive relationships with others do not always correlate with personal autonomy and maintain good psychological well-being. The result depends on an individual’s position: subordinate or equal. In the first case, people try more to please their families or friends, other close people. This can be due to excessive connections with significant others or due to a lack of self-confidence. Such people are not inclined to take responsibility for their choice, shifting it to others; painfully afraid that the rejection of other’s opinions and actions at their own discretion will affect the relationship, and people will become lonely; they passively fulfils requests and orders, show blind obedience; in their actions, they rely on external or impersonal motivation. As a result, their quality of life is low, and their affect balance is rather negative and psychological well-being is bad. If relations with others are based on positions of equality, then they bring real pleasure to all sides of interaction and do not interfere with the manifestations of autonomy. An individual involved in an equal relationship is not afraid to show their love, care; is able to perceive themselves and others, in particular, their partners, as they are, to treat them positively, to trust them, to see them as a personality. At the same time, the desire to have people close in spirit does not interfere with acting on the basis of one’s own motives and views, planning one’s actions, taking responsibility for them and for one’s life path as a whole. Therefore, such relationships contribute to a feeling of psychological well-being and happiness, a high quality of life.