The Relationship between Personality Characteristics and Life Satisfaction with the Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence

Subject Areas : Journal of Excellence in counseling and psychotherapy

Mohammad Reza Mazloomzadeh ¹ (M.A Student, Department of Clinical Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.)
Bahram Ali Ghanbari Hashemabadi ² (Professor, Department of Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran)
Atefeh Jahangiri ³ (B.A Student, Department of Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran)

Received: 2021-09-18 Accepted : 2022-02-19 Published : 2022-02-20

Keywords: emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, personality characteristics,

Abstract :

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between personality characteristics and life satisfaction regarding the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Methodology: The method of this study was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of this study Included Iranian adults living in Mashhad in 2021 with an age range of 18 to 60, from which 407 people were selected by available sampling method. Data were collected using short form of NEO Personality Questionnaire (Costa & McCrae, 1992), Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (Petrides & Furnham, 2006) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation method and path analysis using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24 software. Findings: The path analysis results showed that the research model had a good fit. Neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness had a significant direct effect on life satisfaction and emotional intelligence. Components of emotional intelligence including perception and understanding self and others' emotions, optimism, self-awareness and social skills had a significant direct effect on life satisfaction. In addition, the mediating role of optimism in the relationship between neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness and life satisfaction (p <0.05), the mediating role of self-awareness and perception and understanding self and others' emotions  in the relationship between neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness and life satisfaction (p <0.001) and the mediating role of social skills in the relationship between neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness and life satisfaction (p <0.001) was confirmed. Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that personality characteristics affect life satisfaction through the mediating role of emotional intelligence; therefore, increasing people's emotional intelligence according to their personality characteristics is one of the ways to enhance life satisfaction.