Predicting the effect of locus of control, emotional intelligence, and prosocial behavior of businessmen and professionals on their subjective well-being

Abstract

This extensive study centered around examining the impact of three psychological domains—locus of control, emotional intelligence, and prosocial behavior—on the subjective well-being of a specific cohort: businessmen and professionals within the geographic and cultural context of Bihar, India. The research framework was meticulously structured, engaging a sample of 302 individuals. These participants were carefully selected through a methodological approach that combined purposive and incidental sampling strategies, aiming to enhance the representativeness and relevance of the findings to the target population.

To accurately capture the subjective well-being of these individuals, the research employed two specific scales that are well-established in psychological research. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), pioneered by Diener et al. in 1985, served as a cornerstone measurement, offering a robust quantification of life satisfaction levels among the participants. Complementing this, Ed Diener et al.’s Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) from 2009 provided a nuanced assessment of the participants' affective experiences, effectively mapping a broad spectrum of emotions and experiences linked to their overall well-being.

The emotional intelligence of the participants, a key variable of interest, was measured using the Emotional Intelligence Scale developed by Dr. Arun Kumar Singh and Dr. Shruti Narain. This scale is specifically designed to evaluate individuals' capabilities in recognizing, understanding, and managing their own emotions, as well as their aptitude in discerning and influencing the emotions of others. In parallel, the locus of control was assessed through Terry Pettijohn’s scale, which aims to determine whether individuals attribute outcomes and experiences to their own actions (internal locus) or to external factors beyond their control (external locus).

Moreover, to evaluate prosocial behavior—a construct reflecting individuals' tendencies to benefit others through actions such as helping, sharing, and cooperation—the study utilized Caprara et al.’s scale from 2012. This measurement facet was anticipated to shed light on the extent to which such behaviors contribute to the overall subjective well-being of the study’s subjects.

A rigorous regression analysis was conducted to delve into the relationships between these psychological constructs and subjective well-being. The findings illuminated a significant predictive link, revealing that each of the studied variables—locus of control, emotional intelligence, and prosocial behavior—distinctly contributed to the subjective well-being of the businessmen and professionals in Bihar, India. These insights not only enrich the understanding of well-being in a specific cultural and professional context but also underscore the interplay between individual psychological characteristics and their overarching satisfaction with life.