Financial Strain and Flourishing: An Exploratory Multisample Study on Emotion Regulation Among Unemployed Individuals

Unemployment is known as a stressful period with adverse effects on individuals' well-being and health, especially under economic pressure. Emotion regulation, a key component of emotional intelligence, was tested as a potential personal resource with implications in these links. This multisample study examined both the mediating and moderating roles of regulation of emotion (ROE) in the relationship between financial strain and flourishing. Two samples of unemployed individuals (Sample 1: N = 256; Sample 2: N = 401) completed well-validated questionnaires on ROE, financial strain, flourishing and sociodemographic information. Results revealed that financial strain was negatively associated with flourishing, while ROE showed a positive association with flourishing. ROE partially mediated the link between financial strain and flourishing, suggesting that financial strain not only impacts well-being directly but also indirectly through its links with ROE. Additionally, ROE buffered the link between financial strain and flourishing. These findings underscore the relevance of ROE in sustaining well-being among unemployed individuals facing economic strain. In conclusion, this study highlights the relevance of ROE in intervention programmes aimed at reducing the consequences of financial strain on the psychological well-being of unemployed individuals.