Characteristic emotional intelligence and emotional well-being

• Published in: Cognition and emotion Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 769 - 785
• Main Authors: Schutte, Nicola S., Malouff, John M., Simunek, Maureen, McKenley, Jamie, Hollander, Sharon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hove Taylor & Francis Group 01.11.2002; Psychology Press
• Subjects: Affectivity. Emotion; Biological and medical sciences; Characteristics; Emotional intelligence; Emotional wellbeing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Human; Affect affectivity; Mood; Emotional intelligence; Cognition; Emotion emotionality; Self esteem; Psychological well being
• ISSN: 0269-9931; 1464-0600
• DOI: 10.1080/02699930143000482

Both theory and previous research suggest a link between emotional intelligence and emotional well-being. Emotional intelligence includes the ability to understand and regulate emotions; emotional well-being includes positive mood and high self-esteem. Two studies investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and mood, and between emotional intelligence and self-esteem. The results of these studies indicated that higher emotional intelligence was associated with characteristically positive mood and higher self-esteem. The results of a third study indicated that higher emotional intelligence was associated with a higher positive mood state and greater state self-esteem. The third study also investigated the role of emotional intelligence in mood and self-esteem regulation and found that individuals with higher emotional intelligence showed less of a decrease in positive mood and self-esteem after a negative state induction using the Velten method, and showed more of an increase in positive mood, but not in self-esteem, after a positive state induction. The findings were discussed in the light of previous work on emotional intelligence, and recommendations were made for further study.