Factor structure and validity of a trait emotional intelligence measure

A short self-report emotional intelligence (EI) measure was completed by a sample of 354 students, who also completed a range of affective and personality measures. A subset of the group also completed an intelligence measure. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the EI scale suggested a hierarchical factor structure with a super-ordinate EI factor and four lower-level factors. EI was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with Neuroticism, and positively and significantly correlated with Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Correlations of EI with the other measures were in accordance with theoretical expectations; for example, positive with life satisfaction and negative with depression-proneness. Most of these correlations remained significant when the effects of personality were controlled for. These results and regression modelling show that EI accounts for variance in these measures not accounted for by personality. EI was found not to be significantly correlated with cognitive ability. The relationship between EI and alexithymia was investigated using structural equation modelling and factor analysis. The results indicated that the two constructs are distinct, although strongly correlated.