Abstract
In this study we have succeeded to render an authentic image of Romanian adolescents in terms of EI, coping strategies, and self-esteem. The study involved 211 adolescents aged between 15 and 18, who attend high school in Bucharest. The aim of the study was to identify the relationships between EI and coping strategies, EI and self-esteem, but also the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between EI and coping strategies. Three psychometric instruments were used: TEIQue ASF for the assessment of EI, the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents for self-esteem, and CERQ for coping strategies. The results have shown that EI predicts the nature of the coping strategies chosen by adolescents when confronted with stressful situations. Also, self-esteem has proven to be a significant mediator only in the relationship between EI and maladaptive coping, improving its effects, but not in the relationship between EI and adaptive coping.
References
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Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A. Y. C., Caputi, P. (2000). A critical evaluation of the emotional intelligence construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 539-561.
Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A., &Bajgar, J. (2001). Measuring emotional intelligence in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 1105-1119.
Downey, L. A., Johnston, P. J., Hansen, K., Birney, J., and Stough, C. (2010). Investigating the mediating effects of emotional intelligence and coping on problem behaviors in adolescents. Australian Journal of Psychology, 62, 20–29.
Fernández-Berrocal, P., Alcaide, R., Extremera, N., & Pizarro, D. A. (2006). The role of emotional intelligence in anxiety and depression among adolescents. Individual Differences Research, 4, 16-27.
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Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (1999). Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for intelligence. Intelligence, 27(4), 267-298.
Messer, B., & Harter, S. (2012). The Adolescent Self-Perception Profile. Denver: University of Denver.
Mikolajczak, M., Luminet, O. (2008). Trait emotional intelligence and the cognitive appraisal of stressful events: an exploratory study. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1445–1453.
Petrides, K. V., & Furnham, A. (2000). Gender differences in measured and self-estimated trait emotional intelligence. Sex Roles, 42(5-6), 449-461.
Petrides, K. V., Frederickson, N., & Furnham, A. (2004). The role of trait emotional intelligence in academic performance and deviant behavior at school. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 277-293.
Petrides, K. V., Pérez-González, J. C., and Furnham, A. (2007). On the criterion and incremental validity of trait emotional intelligence. Cognition & Emotion, 21, 26–55.
Saarni, C. (1999). The development of emotional competence. New York: Guilford Press.
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. (1990). EI. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9, 185-211.
Salovey, P., Stroud, L. R., Woolery, A., &Epel, E. S. (2002). Perceived emotional intelligence, stress reactivity, and symptom reports: Further explorations using the trait meta-mood scale. Psychology & Health, 17, 611-627.
Salovey, P., Bedell, R. T., Detweiler, J., & Mayer, J. (2000). Current directions in emotional intelligence research. In M. Lewis, & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (pp. 504-520). New York: Guilford.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personal and Individual Differences, 25, 167-177.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J., Simunek, M., Hollander, S., &McKenley, J. (2002). Characteristic emotional intelligence and emotional well-being. Cognition and Emotion, 16, 769-785.
Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., &Pozo, C. (1992). Conceptualizing the process of coping with health problems. In H. S. Friedman (Ed.), Hostility, coping and health (pp. 167-199). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Chan, D. W. (2003). Dimensions of emotional intelligence and their relationships with social coping among gifted adolescents in Hong Kong. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 32, 409-418.
Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A. Y. C., Caputi, P. (2000). A critical evaluation of the emotional intelligence construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 539-561.
Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A., &Bajgar, J. (2001). Measuring emotional intelligence in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 1105-1119.
Downey, L. A., Johnston, P. J., Hansen, K., Birney, J., and Stough, C. (2010). Investigating the mediating effects of emotional intelligence and coping on problem behaviors in adolescents. Australian Journal of Psychology, 62, 20–29.
Fernández-Berrocal, P., Alcaide, R., Extremera, N., & Pizarro, D. A. (2006). The role of emotional intelligence in anxiety and depression among adolescents. Individual Differences Research, 4, 16-27.
Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V., & Spinhoven, P. (2002). Manual for the use of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.Lei-derdorp, The Netherlands: DATEC.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.
Matthews, G., &Zeidner, M. (2000). Emotional intelligence, adaptation to stressful encounters and health outcomes. In R. Bar-On, & J. D. Parker (Eds.), Handbook of emotional intelligence (pp. 459-489). New York: Jossey-Bass.
Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1993). The intelligence of emotional intelligence. Intelligence, 17, 433-442.
Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (1999). Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for intelligence. Intelligence, 27(4), 267-298.
Messer, B., & Harter, S. (2012). The Adolescent Self-Perception Profile. Denver: University of Denver.
Mikolajczak, M., Luminet, O. (2008). Trait emotional intelligence and the cognitive appraisal of stressful events: an exploratory study. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1445–1453.
Petrides, K. V., & Furnham, A. (2000). Gender differences in measured and self-estimated trait emotional intelligence. Sex Roles, 42(5-6), 449-461.
Petrides, K. V., Frederickson, N., & Furnham, A. (2004). The role of trait emotional intelligence in academic performance and deviant behavior at school. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 277-293.
Petrides, K. V., Pérez-González, J. C., and Furnham, A. (2007). On the criterion and incremental validity of trait emotional intelligence. Cognition & Emotion, 21, 26–55.
Saarni, C. (1999). The development of emotional competence. New York: Guilford Press.
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. (1990). EI. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9, 185-211.
Salovey, P., Stroud, L. R., Woolery, A., &Epel, E. S. (2002). Perceived emotional intelligence, stress reactivity, and symptom reports: Further explorations using the trait meta-mood scale. Psychology & Health, 17, 611-627.
Salovey, P., Bedell, R. T., Detweiler, J., & Mayer, J. (2000). Current directions in emotional intelligence research. In M. Lewis, & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (pp. 504-520). New York: Guilford.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personal and Individual Differences, 25, 167-177.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J., Simunek, M., Hollander, S., &McKenley, J. (2002). Characteristic emotional intelligence and emotional well-being. Cognition and Emotion, 16, 769-785.