Applications of Trait E

When evaluating a construct one must assess how it contributes to real world applications. Significant research has been done on the construct validity of trait EI and applications are found in the realms of organizational, clinical and health psychology as well as in educational and social settings.

1.4.2.3.1 Organizational

There is little support for the ways in which personality measures predict job performance (Murphy & Dzieweczynski, 2005). However, recent studies have found that high trait EI is correlated with higher levels of perceived job control, job

satisfaction and job commitment as well as lower levels of stress (Petrides & Furnham, 2006; Platsidou, 2010; Singh & Woods, 2008). Mikolajczak, Menil, and Luminet (2007) found that individuals with high trait EI scores experienced lower levels of burnout in their job and had less somatic complaints. The researchers also found that individuals scoring high on trait EI performed less emotional effort and experienced more positive consonance (Mikolajczak et al., 2007). They believe this is a result of these individuals experiencing more positive emotions and displaying more empathy

when confronted with difficult situations. In a study examining the relationship between trait EI and nursing team performance and cohesiveness, Quoidbach and Hansenne (2009) found that health care quality and group cohesiveness were both correlated with the facet emotion regulation. As described in Table 1.3, this facet concerns one’s control of his or her feelings and emotional states. This factor is important in maintaining positive group cohesiveness. The ways in which trait EI can predict job performance is of great interest and requires more research (Petrides, 2011).

1.4.2.3.2 Clinical & Health

A number of studies have linked trait EI to both physical and psychological health (Petrides, 2011). In regards to clinical applications, trait EI scores are negatively related to personality disorders and can be indicators of psychopathology (Leible & Snell, 2004; Malterer, Glass, & Newman, 2008; Watson, 2000). In a study of

adolescents, Mikolajczak, Petrides and Hurry (2009) investigated the role of trait EI in self-harm. They found that trait EI was positively correlated with coping strategies and negatively correlated with maladaptive coping strategies and depression. Their overall conclusions were that the relationship between trait EI and self-harm was mediated by the choice of coping strategies.

In another adolescent study, Mavroveli, Petrides, Reiffe and Bakker (2007) examined the relationship between trait EI and psychological well being. The researchers found that in a sample of adolescents, trait EI related negatively to

depression, somatic complaints and maladaptive coping styles. Findings also suggest that trait EI related positively to peer-related social competence and adaptive coping styles (Mavroveli et al, 2007). Adolescents who perceive themselves as knowing and regulating their own emotions reported less depression and physical pain than the other

participants in the study. Additionally, when compared to low trait EI participants, adolescents with high trait EI scores seem to be less vulnerable to psychological disorders (Mavroveli et al., 2007). These findings are fitting as Furnham and Petrides (2003) found trait EI positively correlates with happiness.

Andrei and Petrides (2013) study found further evidence to support the strong link between trait EI and mental health. Their results showed that individuals with high trait EI scores have lower levels of negative affect and somatic complaints. More specifically, “high trait EI individuals are more likely to experience positive moods and less likely to experience negative moods” (Andrei & Petrides, 2013, p.10). They suggest that further research into the origins of somatic symptoms be examined in order to understand the transactional model of stress and coping (Andrei & Petrides, 2013).

In addition to mental health, trait EI is also linked to developmental disorders such as Asperger syndrome. This developmental disorder is characterised by deficits in social interaction, communication skills as well as behavioural inflexibility (Wing, 1996). Petrides, Hurdy, Michalaria, Swami and Sevdalis (2011) found that individuals with Asperger syndrome scored significantly lower on 12 of the 15 TEIQue facets, all four factors and global trait EI than the control group. This finding was in accordance with the researchers hypothesis as Asperger syndrome is characterized by deficits in some of the very facets that comprise trait EI, such as social awareness, emotion perception, and emotion expression. The relationship found between trait EI and Asperger syndrome is an important step in understanding how the symptoms of this developmental disorder fit within the natural individual variability seen in the broad population. (Petrides et al., 2011).

1.4.2.3.3 Educational

The role of trait EI in academic settings is a topic of interest in a number of studies (Ciarrochi, Deane, & Anderson, 2002; Petrides & Furnham, 2003; Petrides, Frederickson, & Furnham, 2004). Petrides et al., (2004) explored the relationship between trait EI and behaviour in a study of British secondary school adolescents. They found that trait EI scores correlated with behaviour in schools. More specifically, their study found that students with high trait EI scores had fewer unauthorized

absences and were less likely to be excluded from school (Petrides et al., 2004). 1.4.2.3.4 Social

Trait EI is correlated with social behaviours in schools (Mavroveli et al., 2007; Petrides, Sangareau, Furnham, & Frederickson, 2006). In a study on peer relations in a primary school, high trait EI pupils scored higher on pro-social factors and lower on anti-social factors in school (Petrides, et al., 2006). The high trait EI pupils also were nominated as being cooperative by their classmates and were less likely to receive nominations for disruptive and aggressive behaviours.

Other social applications of trait EI lie in relationship communication and satisfaction. Smith, Heaven, & Ciarrochi (2008) explored the relationship between these variables in a sample of 82 couples. They found that the most satisfied couples were the ones who did not avoid communication when it came to relationship problems. The most satisfied couples also rated their partners as high in trait EI and perceive themselves as having similar levels of trait EI to their partner (Smith et al., 2008). All of the ways in which trait EI can be applied to real-world scenarios adds to the construct validity of the theory. The validity and other psychometric properties of the trait are discussed in more detail in Section 1.4.2.4 in a detailed discussion of the measurement

of trait EI.