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The Quiet Ego: A Meta-Analytical Review

Author

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  • Maren Rogawski

    (Trier University, Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy)

  • Bianca A. Simonsmeier

    (Trier University, Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy)

  • Susanne Buecker

    (Witten/Herdecke University, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy)

Abstract

This preregistered meta-analytical review explored the construct validity and scope of the Quiet Ego (QE), a characteristic adaptation theorized to shape one's psychosocial functioning in ways that offer potential benefits to individual, societal, and environmental well-being. The literature search in PsycInfo, ERIC and PubMed, conducted in April 2025, encompassed published and unpublished original empirical data in English reporting standardized effect sizes for the bivariate relationship between the QE and various aspects of psychosocial functioning (cognitive, affective, motivational, and behavioral). In total, 273 zero-order Pearson correlations from 26 articles involving 13,391 participants were synthesized applying robust variance estimation. Results of visual and statistical analyses indicate minimal evidence for publication bias. The overall effect size was statistically significant and large in magnitude (r+ = 0.332, 95% CI [0.282, 0.380]). This suggests a substantial correlation between the QE and psychosocial qualities that support healthy functioning in a shared world (e.g., pro- vs. antisocial attitudes, adaptive vs. maladaptive coping, psychological well-being vs. distress). A moderating effect was found for culture, but not for age or gender. A framework of value orientation and actualization was applied to categorize psychosocial constructs based on an intersystemic understanding of human flourishing. Findings showed that the QE aligns with flourishing-promoting facets of desire, wisdom and well-being. Main limitations identified include limited variability in sample and study characteristics and a lack of data on moderator variables. Particularly, there is a need for further experimental research to causally validate whether the QE truly acts as a pathway to intersystemic human flourishing.

Suggested Citation

  • Maren Rogawski & Bianca A. Simonsmeier & Susanne Buecker, 2025. "The Quiet Ego: A Meta-Analytical Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 1-32, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-025-00923-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00923-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthew T. Lee & Isha Mayor, 2023. "Health and Flourishing: An Interdisciplinary Synthesis," Springer Books, in: Mireia Las Heras & Marc Grau Grau & Yasin Rofcanin (ed.), Human Flourishing, pages 49-68, Springer.
    2. Guanyu Liu & Linda M. Isbell & Bernhard Leidner, 2022. "How Does the Quiet Ego Relate to Happiness? A Path Model Investigation of the Relations Between the Quiet Ego, Self-Concept Clarity, and Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1007-1020, March.
    3. Guanyu Liu & Linda M. Isbell & Michael J. Constantino & Bernhard Leidner, 2022. "Quiet Ego Intervention Enhances Flourishing by Increasing Quiet Ego Characteristics and Trait Emotional Intelligence: A Randomized Experiment," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3605-3623, October.
    4. Viechtbauer, Wolfgang, 2010. "Conducting Meta-Analyses in R with the metafor Package," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 36(i03).
    5. Heidi A. Wayment & Jack J. Bauer, 2018. "The Quiet Ego: Motives for Self-Other Balance and Growth in Relation to Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 881-896, March.
    6. Jack J. Bauer & Kiersten J. Weatherbie, 2023. "The Quiet Ego and Human Flourishing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 2499-2530, December.
    7. María L. Vecina & Ilaria Buonomo & Paula Benevene, 2023. "The Role of the Quiet Ego in Promoting Benefits from Social Participation: A Win-win Game for Sustained Social Participation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 2543-2561, December.
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