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Happy and Engaged: Synergies Among Mindfulness and Ability-Related Emotional Intelligence

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Abstract

Relationships between mindfulness and positive affect have been less robust than relationships between mindfulness and negative affect, suggesting that skills in addition to mindfulness may be necessary in transforming mindfulness into a positive psychological force. The present three study program of research (total N = 413) pursued the idea that emotional intelligence (EI), in particular, may infuse mindfulness with social-emotional wisdom, resulting in positive psychological benefits. In Studies 1 and 2, trait-related variations in mindfulness (as assessed by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) interacted with an ability-based EI measure to predict positive feelings in employment contexts as well as outcomes related to organizational commitment and citizenship. In Study 3, daily variations in mindfulness interacted with the same ability-based EI measure to predict daily feelings of positive affect and affiliation motivation. These findings highlight synergies among mindfulness and emotional intelligence in supporting positive affect and social engagement.

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Notes

  1. In Studies 1 and 2, we also administered a factual autonomy scale (Spector & Fox, 2003) for descriptive purposes. Levels of job-related autonomy can vary from 1 to 5, with higher numbers reflecting greater latitude in determining one’s day-to-day activities. Means were 3.57 and 3.85 in Studies 1 and 2, respectively.

  2. Mindfulness did not interact with ability EI to predict job dedication, t(72) = 0.79, p = .432, β = .09, which was another measure that had been assessed in Study 1.

  3. Study 2 also administered a personal industry measure, which was also linked to a mindfulness by ability EI interaction, t(143) = 2.04, p = .043, β = .14. Mindfulness was a positive predictor of personal industry, which relates to job performance, when ability EI was high (+ 1 SD), t(143) = 1.97, p = .051, β = .22, but not when ability EI was low (-− 1 SD), t(143) = -0.64, p = .526, β = − .06.

  4. Mindfulness and ability EI also interacted to predict daily appraisals of reward, b = .082, t = 2.97, p = .003, and perseverance concerning important daily goals, b = .092, t = 3.69, p < .001. By contrast, mindfulness and ability EI did not interact to predict daily appraisals of threat, b = -.006, t = -0.27, p = .788. These interactive results are broadly consistent with those reported in the text.

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  1. Department Psychology, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept. 2765, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA

    Michael D. Robinson

  2. University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

    Michelle R. Persich

  3. Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, USA

    Sukumarakurup Krishnakumar

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  1. Michael D. Robinson
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  2. Michelle R. Persich
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All authors contributed to the conception of this research. Data were primarily analyzed by the second and third authors. The primary writing of the manuscript was by the first author.

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Robinson, M.D., Persich, M.R. & Krishnakumar, S. Happy and Engaged: Synergies Among Mindfulness and Ability-Related Emotional Intelligence. J Happiness Stud 23, 769–788 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00426-w

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