Emotional intelligence and personal growth initiative effects on subjective happiness among university students

Factors correlated with personal growth initiative among college students: A meta-analysis

In higher education, Personal growth initiative (PGI) has been the focus of attention, personal growth initiative is a fundamental mechanism for individual advancement, equipping college students with the resilience to navigate obstacles and bolstering self-enhancement. The present study comprehensively synthesizes existing research on the factors correlated with personal growth initiative among collegiate populations, aims to identify all correlated factors of college students' personal growth initiative, and the level of correlation. A systematic search was conducted through Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, JSTOR, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library, as well as manually search in Google Schalor, spanning to collate research on college students' personal growth initiative. Quantitative synthesis was performed using STATA 17, while sensitivity was tested using a change effect model approach and publication bias was assessed employing Egger's test. After applying the Bonferroni correction, this study found that 18 factors were significantly positively correlated with college students' personal growth initiative, including 4 high-level correlated factors, 10 medium-level correlated factors, and 4 low-level correlated factors, as well as 4 factors were significantly negatively correlated, including 1 medium-level correlated factor and 3 low-level correlated factors. These findings offer valuable insights into personal growth initiative among college students, and the reference for educators and institutional leaders aiming to foster personal growth initiative for college student self-development.

Personal growth Initiative as a protective factor between the relation of practical stress and life satisfaction

Objective: Stress stemming from practical or financial obstacles is among the top sources of stress for college students. The current study examined if one new positive psychological strength factor, personal growth initiative, functioned as a buffer to protect young adults' life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression from practical stress. Participants: Undergraduate students (N = 353, age range 18-23, 73.9% female) at a public university. Method: Participants were recruited through classes and on campus via flyers and completed self-report surveys online. Results: Personal growth initiative significantly moderated the relation between practical stressors and life satisfaction. Specifically, the negative effect of practical stressors on life satisfaction decreased as personal growth initiative levels increased. Practical stress significantly predicted anxiety and depression, though no significant interactions were identified in this model. Conclusion: Overall, results highlighted the protective function of personal growth initiative for life satisfaction in the context of practical stressors faced by young adults in college. Implications and future directions for research are discussed.

Health, Hope, and Harmony: A Systematic Review of the Determinants of Happiness across Cultures and Countries

The aim of this study was to review the literature on what constitutes happiness across cultures and countries to advance scholarly knowledge on the happiness construct. A systematic review was conducted to examine the determinants of happiness in samples across cultures and countries. Five different databases, including APA PsycNet, EBSCO-Academic, EBSCO-Business, Project MUSE, and Google Scholar, grey literature, and in-text references from relevant review articles were used. A total of 155 articles were included in the review, encompassing studies from over 100 countries and 44 cultures. Myriad determinants of happiness were found that were placed into three broad categories labeled Health, Hope, and Harmony. The predominant happiness determinants were mental, emotional, and physical well-being, a purposeful holistic work-life balance, nurturing social relationships, caring for self and others, and being in harmony with one's culture, traditions, community, religion, and environment. This study engendered an "Integrated Model of the Determinants of Happiness" to provide a universally applicable conceptualization of the happiness construct. By examining studies on determinants of happiness across the globe in the past 90 years, this review uncovered that happiness constitutes multiple determinants that fall under three major categories: 'Health', 'Hope', and 'Harmony'.

Cumulative Family Risk and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Adolescents: A Serial Mediating Model of Personal Growth Initiative and Gratitude

In the digital era, playing internet games enriches the entertainment forms for young generations. At the same time, it also raises some social issues, and internet gaming disorder (IGD) is one of them. Abundant studies demonstrate that IGD is harmful to individual physiological and psychological health. Therefore, it is necessary to figure out the reasons and mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Based on the ecological systems theory, the present study investigated the cumulative effect of family risks on adolescent IGD and the serial mediating effects of personal growth initiative (PGI) and gratitude in a chain mediation model. Using random cluster sampling, a sample of 600 Chinese adolescents was recruited to complete the questionnaire. Results of regression analysis suggested that cumulative family risks could positively predict IGD among adolescents. Moreover, PGI and gratitude mediated the relationship between cumulative family risk and IGD, separately, and sequentially. These findings may provide some guidance for the prevention and intervention to prevent or reduce IGD in adolescents.

Brain conditions mediate the association between aging and happiness

As the population ages, the realization of a long and happy life is becoming an increasingly important issue in many societies. Therefore, it is important to clarify how happiness and the brain change with aging. In this study, which was conducted with 417 healthy adults in Japan, the analysis showed that fractional anisotropy (FA) correlated with happiness, especially in the internal capsule, corona radiata, posterior thalamic radiation, cingulum, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. According to previous neuroscience studies, these regions are involved in emotional regulation. In psychological studies, emotional regulation has been associated with improvement in happiness. Therefore, this study is the first to show that FA mediates the relationship between age and subjective happiness in a way that bridges these different fields.

The effect of an emotional intelligence component program on happiness in patients with epilepsy

Emotional intelligence is a psychological component that may affect happiness level in patients with epilepsy. Given the high prevalence of depression in patients with epilepsy, as well as the limitations of studies in this regard in Iran, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an emotional intelligence component program on happiness in patients with epilepsy.

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial study conducted on 70 patients with epilepsy who were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups of 35 patients. Emotional Intelligence Training Based on Bar-On Combined Model was provided in eight 90-minute sessions for eight weeks. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire: demographic data and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ).

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects was 33.3 ± 10.4 years in the intervention group and 34.4 ± 9.3 years in the control group. The independent t-test results showed no significant difference between the two groups before the intervention (p = 0.195). The Mann-Whitney test results showed a significant difference between the two groups after emotional intelligence training (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the findings of this study showed that emotional intelligence training led to improvement of happiness in patients with epilepsy. According to the results of the study, it is suggested that training based on emotional intelligence components be used as an approach to improve happiness level in patients with epilepsy.