Search

The present study focuses on the role of positive emotion regulation as a potential mechanism for linking trait emotional intelligence (EI) and subjective well-being (SWB). We examined whether the savouring and dampening of positive emotions mediate the relationship between trait EI and the two components of SWB: life satisfaction and subjective happiness. A sample of 254 participants completed measures of trait EI, life satisfaction, subjective happiness, and the typical use of savouring and dampening strategies. Analyses indicated that trait EI was positively correlated with the two components of SWB and savouring strategies, and negatively correlated with dampening strategies. Furthermore, savouring strategies were positively related to life satisfaction and subjective happiness, whereas dampening strategies were negatively related to life satisfaction and subjective happiness. Notably, path analyses indicated that the savouring and dampening of positive emotions partially mediated the relationship between EI and both life satisfaction and subjective happiness. The findings corroborate an important role of trait EI in promoting SWB and suggest that part of its beneficial effect reveals itself through positive emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While numerous studies document the impact of emotional intelligence on health, no study has estimated the associated economic impact. As a result, the return on investment that could be expected from investing in improving emotional intelligence is unknown, and emotional intelligence research does not always make the expected impact on public policies. In this study, we examine how profitable it would be for governments or insurances to invest in improving people's emotional intelligence (EI). 9616 members of a Mutual Benefit Society completed a measure of EI that we coupled with their healthcare expenditures. Results first show that every 1% increase in intrapersonal EI corresponds to a 1% decrease in healthcare expenditures. Findings also show that the return on investment of increasing intrapersonal EI would vary as a function of people's educational level: the lower the level of education, the higher the expected return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Emotional intelligence (EI), which refers to individual differences in the identification, understanding, expression, regulation and use of one’s own emotions and those of others, has been found to be an important predictor of individuals’ adaptation to their environment. While it is well-known that EC (as a whole) predicts important outcomes, it has often been unclear which specific competency(ies) participate(s) in a given outcome because, until recently, no measure of EI distinctly measured each of the five core emotional competencies, separately for one’s own and others’ emotions. Because this lack of information was problematic both theoretically (we do not understand the processes at stake) and practically (we cannot develop customized interventions), Brasseur et al. recently developed and validated a measure of EI [Brasseur, S., Grégoire, J., Bourdu, R., & Mikolajczak, M. (2013). The Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC): Development and Validation of a Self-Reported Measure that Fits Dimensions of Emotional Competence Theory. PLoS One 8(5), e6265.] that allows to assess emotion identification, expression, understanding, regulation and use, separately for self and others’ emotions. The current study presents a shorter version of the instrument obtained using structural equation modeling on two samples of 500 subjects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Are emotionally intelligent people sentimental? Does their greater sensitivity handicap them or are they able, as theory would expect, to experience and regulate emotions flexibly, depending on their goals? We examined this issue in organizational settings. Good managers are indeed expected to be both attuned to feelings (theirs as well as their subordinates’) and able to put them aside when needed to take tough (but necessary) decisions. Our results show that emotionally intelligent managers do make better managers, as reflected by greater managerial competencies, higher team efficiency and less stressed subordinates. Moreover, and most importantly, emotionally intelligent managers are not just nicer managers. As our results show, emotional intelligence has nothing to do with sentimentality. Actually, it is managers with low EI who have the greatest difficulties to put their emotions aside and not let them interfere when inappropriate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study aimed at investigating the brain correlates of trait emotional intelligence. Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) is a constellation of emotion-related traits, capturing the extent to which people experience, attend to, identify, understand, regulate, and utilize their emotions and those of others. As previous studies have provided converging evidence that frontal asymmetries were one of the determinants of emotion dispositions and behaviors, and as observations on individuals with a high level of emotional intelligence parallel those on people with a left-sided frontal cortical asymmetry in nearly every respect, we hypothesized that the level of emotional intelligence might be associated with differential frontal activation. Results supported the hypothesis: the pattern of resting electroencephalographic (EEG) activation recorded in the frontal areas was significantly associated with emotional intelligence. Individuals with higher trait EI evidence greater resting left frontal activation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The construct of trait emotional intelligence [trait EI] refers to the individual differences in the perception, processing, regulation, and utilization of emotional information. Several studies have found that trait EI was a significant moderator of both subjective and neuroendocrine responses to stress. The present study explores whether trait EI also influences the anticipation of stressful events and, more specifically, how these events are appraised. Study 1 examines self-efficacy, and Study 2 considers both self-efficacy and challenge/threat appraisals. The results indicate that high trait EI individuals (1) exhibit greater self-efficacy to cope and (2) appraise the situation as a challenge rather than a threat. Several directions for future research are outlined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The construct of trait emotional intelligence [trait EI] encompasses individual dispositions related to the perception, processing, regulation, and utilization of emotional information. These emotion-related dispositions are located at the lower levels of personality hierarchies. Prior studies found that trait EI promoted the utilization of adaptive coping strategies to regulate stress. The present study examined (1) whether this effect would extend to other emotions and (2) whether the coping styles used to regulate a given emotion would mediate the effect of trait EI on the propensity to experience that particular emotion. Analyses revealed that trait EI promoted the choice of adaptive strategies not only in the case of stress, but also anger, sadness, fear, jealousy, and shame. Trait EI also promoted the use of adaptive strategies to maintain joy. We also found that high trait EI individuals’ choice of adaptive strategies to down-regulate various negative emotions and maintain positive ones explained their decreased propensity to experience these negative emotions and their increased propensity to experience positive ones. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Numerous studies have found alexithymia to be negatively associated with psychological distress. However, the nature of such an association remains unclear and controversial. Whereas some authors consider alexithymia as a stable personality trait constituting a vulnerability factor regarding mental disorders, other authors view it as a defensive mechanism secondary to the occurrence of psychological distress. The present prospective study (12 weeks follow-up) examines the stability of alexithymia in the context of acute changes in the level of psychological distress. Contrary to most previous studies that have examined alexithymia stability after a reduction in psychological distress, this study examines alexithymia stability in the context of increase in psychological distress. Four indicators of stability were considered: absolute, mean-level, rank-order and relative stability. Although not absolutely stable, alexithymia was found to show a high degree of relative stability despite the acute increase in psychological distress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article presents two studies about trait emotional intelligence (EI) and diabetes. The first study investigated whether the level of trait EI of people with diabetes differs from the non-diabetes population. The second study explored the impact of trait EI on diabetes-related distress and diabetes self-management behaviors. Methods In study 1, an existing database of 8532 members of a health insurance fund was analyzed through group comparisons to investigate whether the level of trait EI of people suffering from diabetes differs from the non-diabetes people sharing the same gender, age, education level and BMI. Study 2 consisted of a survey among 146 persons with diabetes to investigate the relations between trait EI, distress and diabetes self-management behaviors through regressions and mediation analyses. Results People suffering from diabetes had significantly lower levels of trait EI than controls, but this difference was essentially due to differences in gender, age, educational level and BMI. However, trait EI influenced diabetes self-management behaviors. This relationship was mediated by diabetes-related distress, which proved to be a better predictor of self-management behaviors than depression or anxiety. Conclusion These findings suggest that enhancing trait EI can be an appropriate way to reduce the distress associated with diabetes management and the risk of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The construct of emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the individual differences in the perception, processing, regulation, and utilization of emotional information. As these differences have been shown to have a significant impact on important life outcomes (e.g., mental and physical health, work performance and social relationships), this study investigated, using a controlled experimental design, whether it is possible to increase EI. Participants of the experimental group received a brief empirically-derived EI training (four group training sessions of two hours and a half) while control participants continued to live normally. Results showed a significant increase in emotion identification and emotion management abilities in the training group. Follow-up measures after 6months revealed that these changes were persistent. No significant change was observed in the control group. These findings suggest that EI can be improved and open new treatment avenues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although previous research has uncovered various ways people can savor or dampen their positive emotional experiences, the unique impact of each of these strategies on well-being remains unknown. The present study examines the relative impact of the main positive emotion regulation strategies on two components of well-being: positive affect (PA) and life satisfaction (LS). A total of 282 participants completed measures of PA, LS, overall happiness, and the savoring and dampening strategies they typically used. Results show that when experiencing positive events, focusing attention on the present moment and engaging in positive rumination promoted PA, whereas telling others promoted LS. In contrast, being distracted diminished PA, while focusing on negative details and engaging in negative rumination reduced LS. As the strategies targeted different components of well-being, our results further show that regulatory diversity (i.e., typically using various strategies rather than a few specific ones), was beneficial to overall happiness. Our findings suggest that there are several independent ways to make the best (or the worst) out of our positive emotions, and that the cultivation of multiple savoring strategies might be required to achieve lasting happiness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to understand how emotional aspects evolve and are related to craving for alcohol, different emotion-related variables were examined in relationship to craving during a protracted withdrawal. To this end state affectivity (PANAS), emotional intelligence (EI) (TEIQue), and craving (OCDS) were assessed at the onset (T1: day 1 or 2) and at the end (T2: day 14 to 18) of three-week protracted withdrawal among alcohol-dependent inpatients (DSM-IV, N =41). A significant decrease in craving and negative affectivity (NA) was observed from T1 to T2 while EI scores remained low. At both baseline and follow-up, there was a significant moderation effect of EI on the link between NA and craving for alcohol. Negative mood at the onset of the cure was linked to craving at the end of the withdrawal period but only among patients with low trait EI scores. The merits of using psychotherapeutic approaches were discussed in the treatment of alcohol addiction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]