Emotional Competencies and Psychological Well-Being in Costa Rican Emerging Adults

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem and Resilience

Bibliographic Data

ID16945967
AuthorsMaría Teresa Dobles Villegas (Universitat de València), Hugo Sánchez-Sánchez (0000-0002-6531-7979, Universitat de València), Konstanze Schoeps (0000-0002-6312-7055, Universitat de València, corresponding author), Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla (0000-0003-2536-2019, Universitat de València)
Year2025
Volume15
Issue5
Pages89
Publication date2025-05-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2174-8144 • E-ISSN: 2254-9625
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/ejihpe15050089
PMID40422318
OpenAlexW4410515426
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited49

There is strong empirical evidence on the benefits of emotional competencies, self-esteem, and resilience for well-being in the youth and adult populations. However, little research has been conducted to identify protective factors for well-being among emerging adults in rural areas of Costa Rica, which are particularly vulnerable. This study aims to examine the relationships between emotional competencies and dimensions of psychological well-being, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and resilience in Costa Rican university students. The sample consisted of 328 students aged 18 to 30 years (M = 21.31, SD = 3.28), of whom 47.90% were women. This study utilized Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scale, the Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire, Rosenberg’s General Self-esteem Scale, and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. The results indicated that emotional competencies, particularly emotion management and regulation, have direct positive effects on psychological well-being. Additionally, self-esteem played a mediating role, showing indirect effects between emotional competencies and the dimensions of psychological well-being. Resilience had a less pronounced mediating role than self-esteem in terms of effect size and the number of significant relationships. Moreover, negative effects were identified between emotional perception and understanding and certain well-being dimensions, such as positive relationships and environmental mastery. The findings provide evidence that emotional competencies, self-esteem, and resilience are key factors in promoting psychological well-being among emerging adults in rural areas of Costa Rica. These results highlight the importance of fostering emotional skills and strengthening self-esteem, particularly in emerging adults from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds

Developmental psychology · Emotional competence · Emotional intelligence · Emotional well-being · Psychological resilience · Psychological well-being · Self-esteem · Well-being · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology

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