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The present study examined the association between trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and ADHD symptomatology in samples of 1388 adolescents (ages 14–17 years) and 3313 young adults (ages 18–24 years). Consistent with the notion that difficulties in emotion processing and affect regulation are important features of ADHD, TEI was found to be a moderate to strong predictor in both samples. The TEI dimensions of stress management and adaptability uniquely predicted both hyperactivity–impulsive and inattentive symptomatology for both samples. Implications are discussed in terms of the usefulness of the TEI framework for enhancing understanding of the socio-emotional difficulties associated with ADHD symptoms and for informing interventions and coping strategies.

The study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and several addiction-related behaviours (gambling problems, Internet abuse, and computer gaming misuse) in two adolescent samples: 270 clinical outpatients (180 males and 90 females) and 256 special needs students (160 males and 96 females). Gambling problems, Internet abuse, and computer gaming misuse were positively inter-correlated in both samples; approximately half of the variability in these addiction-related behaviours could be accounted for by a common dysfunctional preoccupation latent variable. Latent variable path analysis found emotional intelligence to be a moderate predictor of dysfunctional preoccupation in both adolescent samples.