Emotional Regulation, Economic Predictors, and Their Influence on Life Satisfaction in Peruvian University Students

A significant study published in Frontiers in Psychology on July 17, 2026, delves into the intricate relationship between how university students manage their emotions, their economic circumstances, and their overall life satisfaction. The research, conducted among 1,030 students at two private universities in Arequipa, Peru, highlights the critical role of both psychological and financial well-being in shaping the student experience. As mental health concerns continue to be a global priority, particularly within academic settings, this study offers valuable insights into protective factors that can foster greater well-being among this demographic.

Unpacking the Drivers of Student Well-being

The investigation reveals a nuanced interplay between emotional regulation strategies and economic factors in predicting life satisfaction. The findings indicate that employing cognitive reappraisal – a strategy involving reinterpreting stressful situations in a more positive or neutral light – is strongly associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. Conversely, expressive suppression, which entails inhibiting the outward display of emotions, shows a negative correlation with life satisfaction. This suggests that students who can adapt their emotional responses are more likely to experience greater contentment with their lives.

Furthermore, the study underscores the substantial impact of economic predictors on life satisfaction. The research employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze these relationships. The results demonstrated that emotional regulation and economic factors collectively explain 35.9% of the variance in life satisfaction among the surveyed students. Within this model, economic predictors emerged as the most significant influence, followed by cognitive reappraisal. Expressive suppression, while negatively related, had a less pronounced effect.

Methodological Approach and Sample Demographics

The study recruited 1,030 university students, aged 18 to 30, from Arequipa, Peru. The sample comprised 624 women and 406 men, with an average age of 19.9 years (Standard Deviation = 2.2). A non-probabilistic purposive sampling method was utilized. A notable aspect of the sample is that 72.6% were full-time students, while 27.4% juggled both study and work.

To measure the key constructs, researchers utilized validated instruments. Emotion regulation was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), originally developed by Gross and John (2003) and adapted for Spanish speakers. This questionnaire differentiates between cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Economic predictors were gauged through a custom-designed five-item scale measuring satisfaction with income, saving capacity, and the quality of material aspects of life. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), a widely recognized measure of the cognitive component of subjective well-being, was also administered.

The data collection process was conducted virtually via the TEAMS platform, following approval from the Ethics Committee of the Universidad Católica de Santa María de Arequipa. Statistical analyses were performed using R software and the SEMinR package for PLS-SEM.

Key Findings: A Deeper Dive

The research yielded several significant correlations:

• Cognitive Reappraisal: Positively correlated with life satisfaction (r = 0.255) and economic predictors (r = 0.173). This indicates that students who reframe challenging situations tend to report higher life satisfaction and perceive their economic situation more favorably.
• Expressive Suppression: Negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = -0.095). This suggests that suppressing emotions is linked to lower life satisfaction. A weaker negative correlation was also observed with economic predictors (r = -0.039), implying a potential, albeit minor, link between suppressing emotions and less favorable economic perceptions.
• Economic Predictors and Life Satisfaction: A strong positive correlation (r = 0.517) was found between economic predictors and life satisfaction, highlighting the significant role of financial well-being in overall contentment.

The PLS-SEM analysis further solidified these findings. The model indicated that cognitive reappraisal (path coefficient β = 0.235) and economic predictors (path coefficient β = 0.494) were significant positive predictors of life satisfaction. Expressive suppression exhibited a negative path coefficient (β = -0.149), confirming its detrimental impact. The overall model explained a substantial 35.9% of the variance in life satisfaction (R² = 0.359).

Contextualizing the Research: The Global and Local Landscape

The mental health of university students is a pressing global issue. Academic pressures, financial burdens, and the transition to adulthood can contribute to elevated stress and anxiety. In this context, identifying factors that promote resilience and well-being is paramount. The study’s focus on the Peruvian university population adds a crucial regional dimension to existing international research, which has often centered on Western populations.

Previous research has consistently highlighted the importance of both psychological and economic factors in subjective well-being. Diener’s foundational work defined subjective well-being as encompassing positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction, with life satisfaction being the cognitive evaluation of one’s life. Economic factors, particularly the subjective perception of financial adequacy, have been shown to be more influential than objective income levels in predicting life satisfaction. Studies have also demonstrated that financial stress is linked to lower well-being and increased psychological distress.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its widespread economic disruptions, has further amplified the importance of economic security for mental health. Research during and after the pandemic has shown that financial instability significantly impacts mental health and life satisfaction. Perception of economic security and financial control has emerged as a key resource for psychological stability.

In Latin America, and specifically Peru, studies have mirrored these global trends. Research by Mamani-Benito et al. (2025) indicated that economic predictors positively influence life satisfaction in the Peruvian working population, while financial stress has detrimental effects. This study builds upon such findings by integrating emotional regulation and economic variables within a single explanatory model for university students.

Implications for Intervention and Policy

The study’s findings have significant implications for universities and policymakers seeking to enhance student well-being. The research strongly suggests that interventions should adopt a multidimensional approach.

• Enhancing Emotional Regulation Skills: Universities can benefit from offering workshops and support services focused on teaching effective emotional regulation strategies, particularly cognitive reappraisal. These programs could equip students with tools to better navigate academic challenges, interpersonal conflicts, and personal stressors.
• Addressing Economic Well-being: The prominent role of economic predictors underscores the need for universities to consider the financial realities faced by their students. This could involve providing better financial literacy programs, offering more accessible financial aid and scholarships, and exploring partnerships that could alleviate financial burdens, such as affordable housing or textbook programs.
• Integrated Support Systems: The complementary nature of emotional and economic factors suggests that support systems should not operate in silos. Financial counseling services could be integrated with mental health services, recognizing that financial stress can exacerbate emotional difficulties and vice versa.

The authors of the study, Vilma Vilca-Pareja, Maria Elena Hillpa-Zuñiga, Maria Elena Rojas-Zegarra, Veronica Ruth Yana-Calla, and Angel Roland Ugarte-Concha, emphasized that "interventions aimed at improving well-being should adopt a multidimensional approach, integrating both the strengthening of emotional regulation skills and economic well-being among university students."

Future Directions and Limitations

While this study offers valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge its limitations. The cross-sectional design means that causal relationships cannot be definitively established. Future longitudinal research could track students over time to better understand the dynamic interplay between these variables. Additionally, reliance on self-report measures may introduce biases related to social desirability and subjective perception. Future studies could incorporate objective economic indicators or behavioral measures.

The sample being limited to university students in Arequipa, Peru, also restricts the generalizability of the findings to other populations or geographical regions. Further research could expand to include diverse student populations, vocational students, or individuals in different life stages to ascertain if these relationships hold true universally. Exploring mediating and moderating models could also provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms through which emotional and financial resources influence life satisfaction.

Despite these limitations, the research provides a robust foundation for understanding the multifaceted determinants of life satisfaction among university students in Peru. By acknowledging and addressing both psychological and economic factors, educational institutions can foster environments that promote greater student well-being and academic success. The study’s publication in Frontiers in Psychology, a reputable peer-reviewed journal, signifies its contribution to the scientific discourse on positive psychology and educational psychology. The open-access nature of the publication ensures that these critical findings are accessible to researchers, educators, and policymakers worldwide.