The Cost of Impression Management to Life Satisfaction: Sense of Control and Loneliness as Mediators

• Main Authors: Wang W, Zhou K, Yu Z, Li J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-05-01
• Series: Psychology Research and Behavior Management
• Subjects: impression management; sense of control; loneliness; life satisfaction
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/the-cost-of-impression-management-to-life-satisfaction-sense-of-contro-peer-reviewed-article-PRBM
• ISSN: 1179-1578

Wangshuai Wang,1 Ke Zhou,2 Zucheng Yu,3 Jie Li4 1School of Management, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zucheng YuSchool of International Relations and Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail]: Impression management, or self-presentation, prevails in our daily lives. However, whether it enhances or reduces individuals’ well-being remains underexplored. To fill this gap, the research proposed and tested the following hypotheses. Impression management is negatively related to life satisfaction. Impression management is negatively related to sense of control. Impression management is positively related to loneliness. Sense of control and loneliness mediate the relationship between impression management and life satisfaction.Methods: Data were collected from an online survey of 243 Chinese adults drawn from a national sampling frame. We used LISREL8.8 to perform a series of CFAs to verify the distinctiveness of variables and conducted SEM modeling to test hypotheses. To further test the mediation hypotheses, we used bootstrapping procedures that generated a sample size of 5000.Results: We found a negative association between impression management and life satisfaction. In addition, the association was fully mediated by sense of control and loneliness.Conclusion: These results reveal that impression management is a negative indicator of life satisfaction because impression management impedes personal sense of control and elevates loneliness.Keywords: impression management, sense of control, loneliness, life satisfaction