Self‐Esteem Mediates the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction in Iranian Students

Background: It is demonstrated that students with better emotional intelligence (EI) had better self-esteem. The aim of study was to assess the role of self-esteem in the relationship of EI and LS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 403 students of Shahroud University of medical sciences (northeast of Iran). In this study we used Schering Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and Diener Satisfaction Questionnaire and Cooper Smith Self-Esteem Questionnaire. Mediation analyzes was done to assess the role of SE in the relationship of EI and LS. Results: About 82% of students had high emotional intelligence level. Comparison of the mean scores of EI, SE and LS by sex showed that there was no significant difference between gender means. The mean score of LS in the groups with high and moderate levels of EI score showed a significant difference between the life satisfaction score between two groups. The results of the mediation analysis showed that SE has a mediatorial role in the relationship between EI and LS, as 98% of the effect of emotional intelligence relationship is through mediating role of self-esteem. Conclusions: Self-esteem showed as an important mediator in the relationship of EI and LS. Regarding this valuable finding, better EI which results in better self-esteem and life satisfaction and these three items could separately results in a series of good results. Keywords: Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction, Emotional Intelligence

Self‐Esteem Mediates the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction in Iranian Students

Background: It is demonstrated that students with better emotional intelligence (EI) had better self-esteem. The aim of study was to assess the role of self-esteem in the relationship of EI and LS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 403 students of Shahroud University of medical sciences (northeast of Iran). In this study we used Schering Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and Diener Satisfaction Questionnaire and Cooper Smith Self-Esteem Questionnaire. Mediation analyzes was done to assess the role of SE in the relationship of EI and LS. Results: About 82% of students had high emotional intelligence level. Comparison of the mean scores of EI, SE and LS by sex showed that there was no significant difference between gender means. The mean score of LS in the groups with high and moderate levels of EI score showed a significant difference between the life satisfaction score between two groups. The results of the mediation analysis showed that SE has a mediatorial role in the relationship between EI and LS, as 98% of the effect of emotional intelligence relationship is through mediating role of self-esteem. Conclusions: Self-esteem showed as an important mediator in the relationship of EI and LS. Regarding this valuable finding, better EI which results in better self-esteem and life satisfaction and these three items could separately results in a series of good results. Keywords: Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction, Emotional Intelligence

Social Media and Relationship Development

The present study examined the use of social media to represent romantic relationships among a diverse, national sample (N=831) of Facebook users aged 20-37. Taken together, results from this study indicate that relationship representation via Facebook is associated with various aspects of commitment, including couple identity, prioritization of one’s relationship, and commitment to the future, and was also associated with stability of the relationship over time. Social media relationship representation was also found to be associated with lower levels of sexual infidelity, alternative partner monitoring, and partner’s jealousy, as well as higher levels of perceived social pressure from friends and family for one’s relationship to continue. No gender differences in relationship representation via social media were found among individuals who were currently in relationships, but single men were found to be more likely than single women to display their single status via Facebook. Among single individuals, displaying one’s single status via Facebook was associated with sexual activity with a higher number of sexual partners. These results are consistent with hypotheses based on commitment theory, self-presentation theory, and economic signal theory. Results are discussed in light of commitment theory, and the fact that many social scientists have perceived a recent societal trend toward ambiguity in relationship development processes among emerging adults. The findings lend support to the notion that social media provides individuals and society with the opportunity to adopt clear, public emblems of commitment, thought by many social scientists to be on the decline. The importance of the volitional nature of social media relationship representation is considered, as are the clinical, methodological, and societal implications of the present results. Limitations of this study and the challenges and possibilities of social media in the field of relationship research are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research

An analysis of demographic differences in student’s perceptions of intelligence at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The concept of intelligence has been one of the most studied phenomena over many centuries and its definition remains a mystery and continues to be surrounded by controversy. There are different ways in which intelligence is conceptualized all over the world, however the most dominant is the Western conceptualization and consequently, all the IQ tests that are currently being utilized to measure intelligence are derived/based on this Western conceptualization of intelligence. This is problematic in the South African context where almost all the tests used to measure intelligence are based on Western standards and interpretations of intelligence but applied in South African populations. The purpose of this study was to explore and establish the perceptions of intelligence and whether age differences exist in these perceptions amongst the University of KwaZulu Natal student population. The findings of this study have the potential to contribute to the body of knowledge that exists in the field of psychometrics, particularly cognitive assessments in South Africa, and can provide valuable insight for theorists and academics in the field who may want to develop a contextually relevant theory of intelligence. A semi structured focus group interview schedule was conducted with 11 participants. The findings of the study established perceptions of intelligence, revealed that demographic differences in students’ perceptions of intelligence do exist, and there are various reasons as to why these exist which are also ultimately the factors that shape the student’s perception of intelligence. Moreover, younger students at the undergraduate level of study generally perceive intelligence using the lenses of the multiple intelligences’ theory while older students at the postgraduate level of study perceive intelligence in both cognitive and social constructionism lenses. The study has revealed that there is a need for additional research to build a solid body of knowledge and create a clear understanding of how students in the larger South African community perceive and construct the concept of intelligence.Abstract available in English and isiZulu