Factors predicting well-being among emerging and middle-aged adults

• Main Author: Nur Farhana, Lyana binti Amerudddin
• Format: Thesis
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: BF Psychology; RA Public aspects of medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/2413/

Mental health is a topic of interest among researchers and there is a critical need for research in understanding underlying factors that may predict an individual’s mental well-being. Therefore, this study examined the three predictors of mental well-being which are emotional intelligence, self-efficacy and selfcompassion among emerging and middle-aged adults in Selangor, Malaysia. The research objectives of the present study are: 1) To compare self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, self-compassion and mental well-being between emerging and middleaged adults; 2) To determine whether self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and selfcompassion predict mental well-being among emerging and middle-aged adults; and 3) To investigate if self-compassion does mediate the relationship between selfefficacy and mental well-being and between emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing in both age groups. A quantitative study using snowball and opportunity sampling was conducted involving 185 emerging adults (M = 22.46 years old, SD = 2.16) and 172 middle-aged adults (M = 47.03 years old, SD = 5.27). Middle-aged adults have higher self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, self-compassion and mental well-being compared to emerging adults. PLS-SEM showed that self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and self-compassion predict mental well-being in both emerging and middle-aged adults. The mediation model revealed that selfcompassion does mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental well-being. This study provides useful contribution on the mediating role of selfcompassion of emotional intelligence towards mental well-being and emphasise on positive constructs to improve populations’ well-being.