The emotional intelligence of a sample of 59 women caregivers (M age = 51.1 yr.) with depressive symptoms was compared with that of a sample of adult women from the general population (M age = 50.7 yr.). No group differences were observed on the Trait Meta-Mood Scale's three dimensions of emotional intelligence across age, socioeconomic status, or education level. Compared with the general population sample, the caregivers group scored significantly lower on Attention to Feelings and Mood Repair.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AdamsK. B. (2008) Specific effects of caring for a spouse with dementia: differences in depressive symptoms between caregiver and non-caregiver spouses. International Psychogeriatrics, 20, 508–520.
2.
CiarrochiJ.DeaneF. P., & AndersonS. (2002) Emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between stress and mental health. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 197–209.
3.
ExtremeraN., & Fernández-BerrocalP. (2002) Relation of perceived emotional intelligence and health-related quality of life of middle-aged women. Psychological Reports, 91, 47–59.
4.
Fernández-BerrocalP., & ExtremeraN. (2008) A review of trait meta-mood research. International Journal of Psychology Research, 2, 39–67.
5.
Fernández-BerrocalP.ExtremeraN., & RamosN. (2004) Validity and reliability of the Spanish Modified Version of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale. Psychological Reports, 94, 751–755.
6.
GoldenbergI.MathesonK., & MantlerJ. (2006) The assessment of emotional intelligence: a comparison of performance-based and self-report methodologies. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86, 33–45.
7.
LubkinI., & LarsenP. (2009) Chronic illness: impact and interventions. (7th ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
8.
LupienS. J.McEwenB. S.GunnarM. R., & HeimC. (2009) Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10, 434–445.
9.
MayerJ. D.SaloveyP., & CarusoD. (2000) Models of emotional intelligence. In SternbergR. J. (Ed.), Handbook of intelligence. New York: Cambridge Univer. Press. Pp. 396–420.
10.
MessinaA.FoglianiA. M., & ParadisoS. (2010) Association between alexithymia, neuroticism, and social desirability scores among Italian graduate students. Psychological Reports, 107, 185–192.
11.
PinquartM., & SörensenS. (2003) Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 18, 250–257.
12.
SaloveyP.BedellB.DetweilerJ. B., & MayerJ. D. (2000) Current directions in emotional intelligence research. In LewisM. & Haviland-JonesJ. M. (Eds.), Handbook of emotions. New York: Guilford. Pp. 504–520.
13.
SchulzR., & SherwoodP. R. (2008) Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. American Journal of Nursing, 108, 23–27.
14.
VázquezF. L.BlancoV., & LópezM. (2007) An adaptation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for use in non-psychiatric Spanish populations. Psychiatry Research, 149, 516–522.