Trait emotional intelligence, psychological well‐being and peer‐rated social competence in adolescence

TLDR

The trait emotional intelligence framework comprehensively covers emotion-related self‑perceptions and dispositions, and the discussion focuses on operationalizing trait emotional self‑efficacy in adolescents. The study examined how trait EI relates to four socioemotional criteria among 282 Dutch adolescents. The authors measured trait EI and four socioemotional outcomes—adaptive and maladaptive coping, depressive thoughts, somatic complaints, and peer‑rated social competence—in a cross‑sectional sample of Dutch adolescents. Higher trait EI was linked to more adaptive coping, fewer depressive thoughts and somatic complaints, and, in boys, less maladaptive coping; adolescents with high trait EI also received more cooperative nominations, while girls more frequently nominated classmates with high trait EI for leadership.

Abstract

The trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self‐efficacy) framework provides comprehensive coverage of emotion‐related self‐perceptions and dispositions. In this study, we investigated the relationship between trait EI and four distinct socioemotional criteria on a sample of Dutch adolescents ( N = 282; 136 girls, 146 boys; mean age = 13.75 years). As hypothesized, trait EI was positively associated with adaptive coping styles and negatively associated with depressive thoughts and frequency of somatic complaints. It was also negatively associated with maladaptive coping styles, in boys only. Adolescents with high trait EI scores received more nominations from their classmates for being co‐operative and girls gave significantly more nominations to classmates with high trait EI scores for having leadership qualities. The discussion focusses on the operationalization of trait emotional self‐efficacy in adolescents.