Trait Emotional Intelligence and Happiness of Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Perfectionism

Siti Khadijah Zainal Badri, Min Yao Kong, Wan Mohd Azam Wan Mohd Yunus, Nor Akmar Nordin and Wai Meng Yap
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Siti Khadijah Zainal Badri: Division of Organisational and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia
Min Yao Kong: Division of Organisational and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia
Wan Mohd Azam Wan Mohd Yunus: Department of Psychology, School of Human Resource Development and Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Malaysia
Nor Akmar Nordin: Department of Psychology, School of Human Resource Development and Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Malaysia
Wai Meng Yap: Department of Psychology, HELP University, Shah Alam 40150, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-12

Abstract: Perfectionism or a tendency to aim for an unrealistic standard can impair happiness. However, the potential mechanisms of perfectionism to explain the association between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and happiness are still understudied. This study explores the mediating role of perfectionism in the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and happiness among young adults. A cross-sectional sample of 259 young adults aged between 18 to 35 years old was recruited. All analyses were conducted using SPSS and AMOS Structural Equation Modeling. High trait EI was linked to low perfectionism and high happiness levels. Furthermore, perfectionism mediated the relationship between trait EI and happiness. Although high trait EI lowered maladaptive perfectionism, the negative impact of maladaptive perfectionism remained and subsequently led to decreasing happiness levels of young adults. This study offers an enhanced understanding of the role of perfectionism in explaining the happiness state of young adults. Moreover, it provides practical implications for using trait EI and managing perfectionism tendency to manage the happiness and wellbeing of the young adult population.

Keywords: young adult; perfectionism; emotional intelligence; happiness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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