Self-Control and Life Satisfaction in Emerging Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Self-Conscious Emotions of Shame and Guilt

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-control and life satisfaction with the mediating role of self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt among emerging adults. Participant consisted of 257 undergraduate students (161 women and 96 man) who were selected by multistage cluster random sampling, and completed Self-Control Scale (Tangney, Baumeister & Boone, 2004), Shame and Guilt Scale (Thompson, Sharp & Alexander, 2008), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985). Structural equation modeling method was used for data analysis. The results showed that self-control directly and positively affect life satisfaction. The effect of self-control on shame was negative and significant and on guilt positive and significant. Shame emotion showed a negative and significant effect on life satisfaction. Whereas, guilt emotion could not predict life satisfaction significantly. The Bootstrap Test confirmed the mediating role of shame emotion in the relationship between self-control and life satisfaction. In fact, with the increase in self-control, the emotion of shame has diminished and thereby improved life satisfaction. Present study showed a different pattern of the mediating role of shame and guilt emotions in the relationship between self-control and life satisfaction.