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Relational intelligence, emotional intelligence and subjective wellbeing
We investigate the hypothesis that relational and emotional intelligence are critical determinants of
subjective wellbeing—both cognitive (life satisfaction) and eudaimonic (sense of meaning)—due to
their central role in solving social dilemmas and managing the interplay between emotional and
rational decision-making processes. We conceptualize and construct composite indices for relational
and emotional intelligence and empirically test their associations with subjective wellbeing using
multivariate econometric models, while also addressing the non-random income non-response bias
with a sufficient condition methodology.
Our findings reveal that both relational and emotional intelligence are positively and significantly
associated with life satisfaction and life meaning, with only a few exceptions. We demonstrate that,
under plausible parametric assumptions, these associations are strong enough to constitute sufficient
conditions for subjective wellbeing. Specifically, the probability of reporting high life satisfaction
increases substantially—by over 20%—with higher emotional intelligence, while both forms of
intelligence exhibit strong predictive power for experiencing a strong sense of life purpose.
The robustness of our results is confirmed across alternative model specifications and addressing
further the endogeneity problem with a generalised structural equation model using valid instrument.
These results suggest that investments in soft skills—often undervalued relative to cognitive
competencies—have substantial implications for personal wellbeing and social cohesion. Our study
provides empirical support for integrating relational and emotional intelligence development into
educational curricula, workforce training, and public health strategies aimed at promoting holistic
wellbeing.
Lorenzo Semplici
Leonardo Becchetti, Demetrio M. Bova
Year of publication 2025