Examining emotional intelligence in older adults with chronic pain: a factor analysis approach

Abstract

Objective

The current study explored whether the three-factor structure of an emotional intelligence measure (attention to emotions, clarity in understanding emotions, and emotion regulation) developed in a sample of college students would replicate in a sample of older adults with chronic pain.

Method

Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted to examine the factor structure of the 30-item Trait Meta-Mood Scale among 340 older adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Results

Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the original three-factor model of emotional intelligence did not fit well with the data for older adults. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a four-factor model of emotional intelligence: (1) confusion, (2) acceptance, (3) rejection, and (4) insight. Correlations between the original and new subscales were explored.

Conclusion

While the newly derived emotional intelligence scales resembled the original conceptualization of emotional intelligence proposed by Salovey, Mayer, Goldman, Turvey, and Palfai (1995), the current study highlights the differences in emotional intelligence likely representative of older adults with chronic pain.

Keywords:

• Older adults
• emotional intelligence emotion regulation
• chronic pain
• quality of life/well-being

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the support of Brian Cox, Catherine Polster, and Jessica Greenlee for project and data management, and to the numerous students who assisted with data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute of Aging Grant R01 AG046155 (P. A. Parmelee and D. M. Smith, Co-PIs).