A Sequential Path Model Testing: Emotional Intelligence, Resilient Coping and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms during Unemployment

Abstract

The unemployment rate has dramatically increased in southern Europe in the last decade. Although it is well-known that unemployment impairs mental health, the specific roles of personal resources like emotional intelligence (EI) and potential underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Prior studies have shown that resilience and self-esteem are mediators in the link between EI and mental health. The present study aims to bridge these gaps by testing a sequential path model. Specifically, we propose that EI is associated with lower depressive symptoms, which is explained by higher resilient coping strategies and a resulting increased self-esteem among unemployed individuals. A sample of Spanish unemployed persons completed measures of EI, resilience, self-esteem and depression. The results showed that higher levels of EI were positively associated with resilience and self-esteem and negatively related to depressive symptoms. Path analyses showed that resilience and self-esteem mediated the relation between EI and depression in sequence. These findings suggest that EI plays a key role in promoting mental health and provide preliminary evidence regarding potential mechanisms through which EI contributes to mental health during unemployment. Implications for assessing the absence of these positive resources in developing effective job search programs geared toward promoting mental health and re-employment are discussed.

Emotional intelligence and self-esteem: Personal competencies necessary for physicians

“…In regard to the first objective posed, and according to our first hypothesis, global self-esteem of physicians was found to be associated positively with the Stress Management and Adaptability dimensions of emotional intelligence, and especially with Mood, with which it has a close relationship. These results are similar to those found in other groups ( 47 , 48 ). Furthermore, studies such as the one by Pérez-Fuentes et al ( 45 ) have shown that mood is an important predictor of self-esteem in healthcare workers.…”

“…In addition, the emotional intelligence of healthcare professionals has been found to be positively related to self-esteem ( 45 ), and more specifically, Mood is a strong predictor of it ( 46 ). These results are similar to those found in samples of other workers ( 47 ) and groups ( 48 ). Therefore, as emotions are based on implicit beliefs and their experience, expression and management are driven by sociocultural values ( 49 ), it is of interest to know these constructs in the Spanish medical context.…”

Self-Concept as a Mediator of the Relation Between University Students’ Resilience and Academic Achievement

“…We used the Spanish version of Extremera et al (2019) , which has shown adequate validity and reliability in Spanish contexts (α = 0.91.). This instrument has been previously used in other studies in the Spanish context ( Peláez-Fernández et al, 2021 ; Yudes et al, 2021 ).…”

The Effect of Low Self-esteem on Development of Depression: A Meta-analysis

“…Table 1. The characteristics of the participants of the included articles [13,14,21,[27][28][29][30][31][32] No…”

“…According to past research, a moderate increase of self-esteem during adolescence is identified [25], which varies among individuals under different parenting styles [26], making it important for parents to receive advice on parenting styles to avoid harming self-esteem and increasing their risk of contracting depression. Also, it is shown that unemployed people have significantly lower self-esteem and higher depression than ordinary people [27]. This shows the need for the government to focus efforts on job losses, since it possibly gives rise to low self-esteem and psychological issues.…”