Predictive Relationships Between Emotional Awareness, Psychological Flexibility and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the predictive relationships between teachers’ emotional awareness, psychological flexibility and life satisfaction. Relational survey model, one of the general survey models, was used in the study. The study group consisted of 350 teachers (276 female and 74 male) working in different provinces of our country in the 2021-2022 academic year. “Personal Information Form”, “Emotional Self-Awareness Scale (ESQ)-10”, “Acceptance and Action Form (AAQ)-II” and “Life Satisfaction Scale” prepared by the researcher were used to collect data. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used in the analysis of the study. According to the findings obtained as a result of the analysis, it was found that teachers' emotional awareness negatively affected their psychological inflexibility (ß = -54, p<0.01). In other words, there is a significant positive relationship between teachers' emotional awareness and psychological flexibility. It was also found that teachers' acceptance and action form scores negatively affected their life satisfaction scores (ß = -25, p<0.01). In other words, it was found that there was a significant positive relationship between teachers' psychological flexibility and their life satisfaction. According to another finding, it was concluded that there is a positive indirect relationship between teachers’ emotional awareness and their life satisfaction. The correlation coefficient value for this factor was ß = 0.14 [C.I.= 0.07-0.21]. Suggestions were developed for the results obtained. Suggestions were developed for the results obtained.

Keywords

• Emotional Awareness
• Psychological Flexibility
• Life Satisfaction.

Duygusal Farkındalık, Psikolojik Esneklik ve Yaşam Doyumu Arasındaki Yordayıcı İlişkiler

Abstract

Bu çalışma öğretmenlerin duygusal farkındalıkları, psikolojik esneklikleri ve yaşam doyumları arasındaki yordayıcı ilişkileri belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada genel tarama modellerinden ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2021-2022 eğitim-öğretim yılında Türkiye’nin farklı illerinde 276 kadın, 74 erkek olmak üzere görev yapmakta olan 350 öğretmen oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada verileri toplamak amacıyla araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan “Kişisel Bilgi Formu”, “A Duygusal Öz Farkındalık Ölçeği (DÖFÖ)-10”, “Kabul ve Eylem Formu (KEF)-II” ve “Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın analizinde Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi (YEM) kullanılmıştır. Analiz sonucunda elde edilen bulgulara göre; öğretmenlerin duygusal farkındalıklarının psikolojik esneksizliğini negatif etkilediği (ß = -54, p<0.01) bulunmuştur. Yani öğretmenlerin duygusal farkındalıkları ile psikolojik esneklikleri arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmektedir. Ayrıca öğretmenlerin kabul ve eylem formu puanlarının yaşam doyumu puanlarını negatif etkilediği (ß = -25, p<0.01) bulunmuştur. Başka bir ifadeyle, öğretmenlerin psikolojik esneklikleri ile yaşam doyumları arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu bulunmuştur. Diğer bir bulguya göre, öğretmenlerin duygusal farkındalıkları ile yaşam doyumları arasında pozitif yönlü dolaylı bir ilişki olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu faktöre ilişkin bağlantı katsayı değeri ß = 0.14 [G.A.= 0.07-0.21] olarak bulunmuştur. Ulaşılan sonuçlara yönelik öneriler geliştirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Duygusal Farkındalık
• Psikolojik Esneklik
• Yaşam Doyumu.

References

1. Ateş, B. ve Sağar, M. E. (2022). Öğretmen adaylarında psikolojik esnekliğin, öz-yeterliğin ve iletişim becerilerinin yaşam doyumu üzerindeki yordayıcı rolü. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, 11(1), 219-227. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.1007362
2. Avşaroğlu, S. ve Koç, H. (2019). Yaşam doyumu ile sıkıntıyı tolere etme arasındaki ilişkide iyimserliğin aracı etkisi. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 9(53), 565-588.
3. Bağcı, T. (2008). Üniversite öğrencilerinin aleksitimik düzeylerinin bazı değişkenlere göre incelenmesi [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Gazi Üniversitesi.
4. Bergquist, J. J. (2015). Incremental validity of psychological flexibility, anxiety sensitivity, and mindfulness in the prediction of panic disorder symptomology and life satisfaction (Doctoral dissertation). Appalachian State University.
5. Bi, D. ve Li, X. (2021). Psychological flexibility profiles, college adjustment, and subjective well-being among college students in China: A latent profile analysis. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 20, 20-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.01.008
6. Blackledge, J. T., Ciarrochi, J. ve Deane, F. P. (Eds.). (2009). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Contemporary theory research and practice. Australian Academic Press.
7. Blackledge, J. T. ve Hayes, S. C. (2001). Emotion regulation in acceptance and commitment therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57(2), 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(200102)57:2%3C243::AID-JCLP9%3E3.0.CO;2-X
8. Bond, F. W. ve Donaldso-feilder, E. J. (2004). The relative importnace of psychological acceptance and emotional intelligence to workplace well-being. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 32(2), 187-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/08069880410001692210

9. Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., Waltz, T. ve Zettle, R. D. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the acceptance and action questionnaire-II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experientiak avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42(4), 676-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007
10. Boostani, M., Ezadikhah, Z. ve Sadeghi, M. (2017). Effectiveness of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy on the difficulty emotional regulation and distress tolerance patients with essential hypertension. International Journal of Educational and Psychological Researches, 3(3), 205-211. https://www.doi.org/10.4103/2395-2296.204118
11. Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö. E., Karadeniz, Ş. ve Demirel, F. (2020). Eğitimde bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Ankara: Pegem Yayıncılık.
12. Caponigro, J. M., Moran, E. K., Kring, A. M. ve Moskowitz, J. T. (2014). Awareness and coping with emotion in schizophrenia: Acceptability, feasibility and case illustrations. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 21(4), 371-380. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1839
13. Cobos-Sânchez, L., Flujas-Contreras, J. M. ve Becerra, I. G. (2020). Relation between psychological flexibility, emotional intelligence and emoiton regulation in adolescence. Current psychology, 41(8), 5434-5443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01067-7
14. Cooper, R. K., ve Sawaf, A. (1998). Executive EQ: Emotional intelligence in leadership and organizations. Penguin.
15. Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542- 575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542
16. Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J. ve Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
17. Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E. ve Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276-302. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276
18. Dikmen, A. (1995). İş doyumu ve yaşam doyumu ilişkisi. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 50(03), 115-140. https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000001851
19. Dökmen, Ü. (2003). İletişim çatışmaları ve empati. Sistem Yayıncılık.
20. Edwards, D. J. ve Lowe, R. (2021). Associations between mental health, interoception, psychological flexibility, and self-as-context, as predictors for alexithymia: A deep artificial neural network approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637802
21. Extremera, N., Durán, A. ve Rey, L. (2009). The moderating effect of trait meta-mood and perceived stress on life satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(2), 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.02.007
22. FeldmanHall, O., Dalgleish, T. ve Mobbs, D. (2012). Alexithymia decreases altruism in real social decisions. Cortex, 49(3), 899-904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2012.10.015
23. Fledderus, M., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Smit, F., ve Westerhof, G. J. (2010). Mental health promotion as a new goal in public mental health care: A randomized controlled trial of an intervention enhancing psychological flexibility. American Journal of Public Health, 100(12), 2372-2378. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.196196
24. Gallego, A., McHugh, L., Villatte, M. ve Lappalainen, R. (2020). Examining the relationship between public speaking anxiety, distress tolerance and psychological flexibility. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 16, 128-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.04.003
25. Gaukroger, C. E. D. (2018). The role of psychological flexibility within detection and regulation of emotion (Doctoral dissertation). Leeds University.
26. George, D. ve Mallery, P. (2010). SPSS for Windows step by step: A simple guide and reference. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
27. Goleman, D. (1998). Duygusal zekâ neden IQ’dan daha önemlidir? (B. Seçkin Yüksel, Çev.; 2.baskı). Varlık Yayınları. (Orijinal eserin yayın tarihi 1996)
28. Graham, C. D., Gouick, J., Ferreira, N. ve Gillanders, D. (2016). The influence of psychological flexibility on life satisfaction and mood in muscle disorders. Rehabilitation Psychology, 61(2), 210-217. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000092
29. Gralla, K. F. (2022). Subjective well-being and its association with social skills and psychological flexibility (Bachelor thesis). Twente University.
30. Greenberg, L. S. (2010). Emotion-focused therapy: An overview. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 4(33), 1-12. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/tpdrd/issue/21453/229828
31. Harris, R. (2016). ACT’i kolay öğrenmek: İlkeler ve ötesi için hızlı bir başlangıç. (H. T. Karatepe ve K. F. Yavuz, Çev.; 1.baskı). Litera Yayıncılık. (Orijinal eserin yayın tarihi 2009)
32. Harris, R. (2019). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.
33. Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., ve Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, process and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006
34. Hayes, S. C., Wilson, K. G., Strosahl, K. D., Gifford, E. V. ve Follette, V. M. (1996). Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(6), 1152- 1168. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.6.1152
35. Huang, N. T. ve Lee, H. L. (2019). Ability emotinal intelligence and life satisfaction: Humor style as a mediator. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 47(5), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.7805
36. Hudyma, A. J. I. (2019). The role of psychological flexibility in graduate student stress and well-being (Doctoral dissertation). Denver University.
37. Karakuş, S. (2020). Otantiklik ve yaşam doyumunun aleksitimi ile açıklanmasında psikolojik esnekliğin aracı rolü [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Mersin Üniversitesi.
38. Kashdan, T. B. ve Rottenberg, J. (2010). Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 865-878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.001
39. Kaya, A. (2020). İnsan ilişkileri ve iletişim. Pegem Akademi Yayıncılık
40. Killian, K. D. (2012). Development and validation of the emotional self-awareness questionnaire: A measure of emotional intelligence. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(3), 502-514. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00233.x
41. Koçak, R. (2002). Aleksitimi: Kuramsal çerçeve tedavi yaklaşımları ve ilgili araştırmalar. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 35(1-2), 183- 212. https://doi.org/10.1501/Egifak_0000000056
42. Köker, S. (1991). Normal ve sorunlu ergenlerin yaşam doyumu düzeylerinin karşılaştırılması [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Ankara Üniversitesi.
43. Köse, T. (2019). Boşanma sürecindeki ve evli bireylerin bilişsel duygu düzenleme sıkıntıyı tolere etme ve yaşam doyumlarının incelenmesi [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. İstanbul Üniversitesi.
44. Lacewig, M. (2005). Emotional self-awareness an ethical deliberation. Ratio, 18(1), 65-81. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9329.2005.00271.x
45. Landstra, J. M., Ciarrochi, J., Deane, F. P. ve Hillman, R. J. (2013). Identifying and describing feelings and psychological flexibility predict mental health in men with HIV. British Journal of Health Psychology, 18(4), 844-857. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12026
46. Lane, R. D. ve Schwartz, G. E. (1987). Levels of emotional awareness: A cognitive- developmental theory and its application to psychopathology. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 144(2), 133-143. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.144.2.133
47. Lane, R. D. ve Schwartz, G. E. (1992). Levels of emotional awareness: Implications for psychotherapeutic integration. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 2(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0101238
48. Lazarus, R. S. (1982). Thoughts on the relations between emotion and cognition. American Psychologist, 37(9), 1019-1024. http://gruberpeplab.com/3131/Lazarus_1982.pdf
49. Lucas, J. J., ve Moore, K. A. (2020). Psychological flexibility: Positive implications for mental health and life satisfaction. Health Promotion International, 35(2), 312-320. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daz004
50. Luoma, J. B., Hayes, S. C. ve Walser, R. D. (2017). Learning ACT: An acceptance and commitment therapy skills training manual for therapists. New Harbinger Publications.
51. Masuda, A., ve Tully, E. C. (2012). The role of mindfulness and psychological flexibility in somatization, depression, anxiety, and general psychological distress in a nonclinical college sample. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 17(1), 66-71. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587211423400
52. Millette, D. (2021). Emotional self-awarereness, self-care, and life satisfaction in child welfare workers (Doctoral dissertation). Capella University.
53. Neugarten, B. L., Havighurst, R. J. ve Tobin, S. S. (1961). The measurement of life satisfaction. Journal of Gerontology, 16, 134-143. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/16.2.134
54. Onyishi, I. E. ve Okongwu, O. E. (2013). Personality and social support as predictors of life satisfaction of Nigerian prisons officers. The Social Sciences, 8(1), 5-12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287244930_Personality_and_social_support_as_predictors_of_life_satisfaction_of_nigerian_prisons_officers
55. Özdevecioğlu, M. ve Aktaş, A (2007). Kariyer bağlılığı, mesleki bağlılık ve örgütsel bağlılığın yaşam tatmini üzerindeki etkisi: İş-aile çatışmasının rolü. Erciyes Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 28, 1-20. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/erciyesiibd/issue/5885/77845
56. Ramaci, T., Bellini, D., Presti, G., ve Santisi, G. (2019). Psychological flexibility and mindfulness as predictors of individual outcomes in hospital health workers. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01302
57. Rieffe, C., Oosterveld, P., Miers, A. C., Terwogt, M. M., ve Ly, V. (2008). Emotion awareness and internalising symptoms in children and adolescents: The emotion awareness questionnaire revised. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(8), 756-761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2008.08.001
58. Salovey, P., Stroud, L. R., Woolery, A ve Epel, E. S. (2002). Perceived emotional intelligence, stress reactivity, and symptom reports: Further explorations using the trait meta-mood scale. Psychology and Health, 17(5), 611-627. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440290025812
59. Sandoz, E. K., Wilson, K. G. ve DuFrene, T. (2011). The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for bulimia: A guide to breaking free from bulimia using acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.
60. Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H. ve Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. Methods of Psychological Research Online, 8(2), 23-74. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251060246_Evaluating_the_Fit_of_Structural_Equation_Models_Tests_of_Significance_and_Descriptive_Goodness-of-Fit_Measures
61. Seligman, M. E. P. ve Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5-14. http://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.1.5
62. Sünbül, Z. A. (2020). Mindfulness, positive affection and cognitive flexibility as antecedents of trait resilience. Studia Psychologica, 62(4), 277-290. https://doi.org/10.31577/sp.2020.04.805
63. Swinkels, A. ve Giuliano, T. A. (1995). The measurement and conceptualization of mood awareness: Monitoring and labeling one’s mood states. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21(9), 934-949. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167295219008
64. Tatar, A., Özdemir, H., Çelikbaş, B., ve Özmen, H. E. (2018). A duygusal öz farkındalık ölçeği’nin geliştirilmesi ve klinik olmayan örneklemde duygusal öz farkındalığın kaygı ve depresyondaki rolünün incelenmesi. Social Mentality and Researcher Thinkers Journal, 4(13), 793-806. http://dx.doi.org/10.31576/smryj.125
65. Veenhoven, R. (1996). The study of life satisfaction. In W. E. Saris, R. Veenhoven, A. C. Scherpenzeel ve B. Bunting (Eds.), A comparative study of satisfaction with life in Europe (pp. 11-48). Eötvös University Press.
66. Wersebe, H., Lieb, R., Meyer, A. H., Hofer, P. ve Gloster, A. T. (2018). The link between stress, well-being, and psychological flexibility during an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy self-help intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 18(1), 60-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2017.09.002
67. Williams, L. J., Vandenberg, R. J. ve Edwards, J. R. (2009). 12 structural equation modeling in management research: A guide for improved analysis. The Academy of Management Annals, 3(1), 543-604. https://doi.org/10.1080/19416520903065683
68. Yavuz, F., Ulusoy, S., Iskin, M., Esen, F. B., Burhan, H. S., Karadere, M. E. ve Yavuz, N. (2016). Turkish version of acceptance and action questionnaire- II (AAQ-II): A reliability and validity analysis in clinical and non-clinical samples. Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni – Bulletion of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 26(4), 397-408. https://doi.org/10.5455/bcp.20160223124107