Affective mediators of the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and life satisfaction in young adults

This study examined the affective mediators of the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and life satisfaction in young adults and the widespread or limited affective mediators between the different groups in demographic factors, e.g., gender, students and non-students, family conditions. Six hundred and twenty participants completed the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale. Results using structural equation modeling showed that both positive affect and negative affect acted as mediators of the relationship between trait El and life satisfaction and the indirect effect of trait El on life satisfaction via positive affect was stronger than that via negative affect. Moreover, multi-group analyses found that the paths did not differ by gender and family conditions, but positive affect was more strongly associated with students' life satisfaction, compared to non-students. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.