Relation of emotional intelligence to subjective vitality: mediating role of self-compassion

Subjective vitality is defined as having adequate physical and mental energy. People with higher emotional intelligence, are happier, livelier, and more functional. But the main question of the present study is whether the self-compassion plays a mediating role in this regard?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and subjective vitality with mediation of self-compassion among undergraduate students of Shiraz University.

This research was a correlational study. From the statistical population of undergraduate students of Shiraz University in academic year 1397-98, 298 students (149 women and 149 men) were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling method, and they completed three questionnaires of subjective vitality (Ryan & Frederick, 1997), self-compassion (Neff, 2003), and emotional intelligence (Petridse & Furnham, 2001). Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling method.

Research model had a proper fitness with the research data, and emotional intelligence had a direct effect on studentschr('39') self-compassion ( =β0/41, p˂ 0/05), and subjective vitality ( =β0/29, p˂ 0/01). The indirect effect of emotional intelligence on studentschr('39') subjective vitality was also statistically significant through mediation of self-compassion (=β 0/21, p˂ 0/01). Thus, it can be said that emotional intelligence can affect studentschr('39') subjective vitality both directly and indirectly through mediation of self-compassion.

Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that promoting emotional intelligence can enhance studentschr('39') self-compassion and as a result, provided their subjective vitality.