The Relationship Among Need for Cognition, Intellectual Humility, and Emotional Well-Being: An Examination of Moderated Mediating Effects of Age

This study aimed to identify the importance of intellectual humility in influencing need for cognition across different age groups and to propose cognitive factors that enhance emotional well-being. The study examined the mediating effect of need for cognition in the relationship between intellectual humility and emotional well-being, and tested for an age-moderated mediation effect using a moderated mediation model. Data were collected from participants in their 20s (N=250) and those aged 60 and above (N=250). The analyses were conducted using SPSS, Process MACRO, and AMOS. Results showed that need for cognition significantly mediated the relationship between intellectual humility and emotional well-being, indicating a partial mediation effect. Age moderated this mediation pathway, resulting in a significant moderated mediation effect. An increase in emotional well-being driven by higher need for cognition associated with intellectual humility was observed in those aged 60 and above but not in participants in their 20s. These findings highlight the importance of examining the relationships among intellectual humility, need for cognition, and emotional well-being, and they suggest that need for cognition and intellectual humility may play a role in enhancing emotional well-being for individuals aged 60 and above.