Unpacking the differential effects of dispositional envy on happiness among adolescents and young adults: The mediated moderation role of self-esteem

Abstract

A robust association between dispositional envy and happiness was primarily concluded among young adults. As social contexts can vary across developmental stages, the effect of dispositional envy may be enhanced or diminished in different age groups. Thus, the present research attempted to quantify the differential associations between dispositional envy and happiness among adolescents and young adults (N = 586). Moreover, we examined another important question of why the association differed across the two age groups. Using mediated moderation analysis, we found a stronger association between dispositional envy and happiness among young adults than adolescents. We also revealed that self-esteem was a valid mechanism to unpack the differential associations across two age groups.