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Shyness and Subjective Well-being: The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Social Support

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Abstract

This study examined the role of emotional intelligence (EI) and social support on the relationship between shyness and subjective well-being (SWB) in Chinese college students. The participants were 496 students, with an age range of 18–24, who were attending two different Chinese colleges. Data were collected by using the paper and pencil assessments including Cheek and Buss shyness scale, Wong and Law emotional intelligence scale, multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support, positive affect and negative affect scale and satisfaction with life scale. Path analysis showed that EI and social support partially mediated the relationship between shyness and SWB. The final model also revealed a significant path from shyness through EI and social support to SWB. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis found that the paths did not differ across sexes, but significantly differed between urban and rural areas. The results are discussed in terms of the conceptional context.

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Acknowledgments

This research was founded by the Innovation Funds of Graduate Programs (2012CXS025) of Shaanxi Normal University and the Key Program of the 11th Fiveyear Plan of National Education Science (DBA070070).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

    Jingjing Zhao & Yonghui Wang

  2. Shaanxi Provincial, Key Laboratory of Behavior & Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi’an, China

    Jingjing Zhao & Yonghui Wang

  3. State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

    Feng Kong

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  1. Jingjing Zhao
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  2. Feng Kong
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  3. Yonghui Wang
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Correspondence to Jingjing Zhao or Yonghui Wang.

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Zhao, J., Kong, F. & Wang, Y. Shyness and Subjective Well-being: The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Social Support. Soc Indic Res 114, 891–900 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0178-6

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