A Meta-Analytic Investigation of Emotional Intelligence and Alcohol Involvement

Abstract

The relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and alcohol involvement has been investigated by numerous studies. The present meta-analysis analyzed the findings of these studies. The meta-analysis, based on 16 effect sizes from 11 studies with a total of 2,271 participants, showed that lower EI was significantly related to higher alcohol involvement, r = −.18. Lower EI was significantly associated with both alcohol-related problems, r = −.32 and level of alcohol use, r = −.10, but the association was significantly higher with alcohol-use-related problems. The results suggest that future research would most profitably examine the role of EI in alcohol consumption-related problems.

RÉSUMÉ

Una investigación meta-analítica de la inteligencia emocional y la participación del alcohol

La relación entre la inteligencia emocional y la participación del alcohol ha sido investigada por numerosos estudios. El presente meta-análisis analizó los resultados de estos estudios. El meta-análisis, basado en un tamaño de efecto de 16 a partir de los 11 estudios con un total de 2,271 participantes, mostró que la reducción de la inteligencia emocional se relacionaba significativamente con una participación más alta de alcohol, r = −.18. Inferior inteligencia emocional fue significativamente asociada con ambos problemas derivados del alcohol, r = −.32 y con el nivel de consumo de alcohol, r = −.10, pero la asociación fue significativamente mayor con los problemas relacionados con el alcohol. Los resultados sugieren que futura investigación sería más provechosa si se examinara el papel de la inteligencia emocional en los problemas relacionados con el alcohol.

RESUMEN

Une méta-analyse de l'intelligence émotionnelle et l'implication de l'alcool

La relation entre l'intelligence émotionnelle et l'implication d'alcool a été étudiée par de nombreuses études. La présente méta-analyse a analysé les résultats de ces études. La méta-analyse, basée sur 16 tailles d'effet provenant de 11 études avec un total de 2271 participants, ont montré que la baisse de l'intelligence émotionnelle était significativement liée à la participation plus élevée en alcool, r = −.18. L'intelligence émotionnelle Basse était significativement associée à la fois les problèmes d'alcool, r = −.32 et le niveau de consommation d'alcool, r = −.10, mais l'association a été significativement plus élevée avec les problèmes d'alcool. Les résultats suggèrent que les recherches futures serait plus profitable d'examiner le rôle de l'intelligence émotionnelle dans les problèmes d'alcool.

Keywords :

• emotional intelligence
• alcohol
• meta-analysis

THE AUTHORS

Katie Peterson has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and is currently employed as a Psychologist at Life Solutions North West in Tamworth, NSW, Australia. Her current research focuses on perinatal mental health programs in rural communities.

John M. Malouff has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is an Associate Professor of psychology at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, Australia. His research focuses on psychological problems, including the efficacy of interventions for psychological problems. He also studies emotional intelligence and other psychological characteristics of individuals.

Dr. Einar B. Thorsteinsson, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New England, Australia. He has a strong research profile in areas within Health Psychology and continues to build productive national and international research collaborations in areas such as adolescent coping and health, psychological well-being, social support, depression, and multiple sclerosis with different research teams.