Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form: Brazilian Validation and Measurement Invariance between the United Kingdom and Latin-American Datasets

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian adaptation of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF). In a sample of 512 participants, we tested model fit by bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM), followed by measurement invariance testing against UK and Chilean datasets of the measure. The Big Five Mini-Markers, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Subjective Happiness Scale were also administered as external validation measures. We obtained the following results: (a) final adequate bifactor ESEM model fit; (b) a significantly higher global trait EI mean for men (d = .27); (c) high internal consistency for global trait EI (α = .88), in spite of lower Cronbach’s α values at the factor level (.60−.85); (d) high correlation (r = .89) in the test-retest; (e) significant correlation between global trait EI and most of the Big Five dimensions (r = −.66−.46), life satisfaction (.59) and happiness (.68); (f) evidence of incremental validity of trait EI for life satisfaction and happiness over and above the Big Five; (g) equivalent measurement across the Brazilian, UK and Chilean versions of the TEIQue-SF. We conclude that the Brazilian TEIQue-SF is psychometrically sound and can be recommended for research and practical use.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Prof. Dr. Paulo Martins-Júnior, from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, FO-UFMG, for his collaboration in data collection. The study was additionally supported by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), State University of Paraíba (UEPB), University College London (UCL), Austral University of Chile (UACh), the Chilean national commission of research, science and technology.

Open Scholarship

This article has earned the Center for Open Science badges for Open Data and Open Materials through Open Practices Disclosure. The data and materials are openly accessible at http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/jjzrpr659v.2 and http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/3ph4hybhx7.1. To obtain the author's disclosure form, please contact the Editor.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) - N° 22/2018, under grant N°. 205043/2018-6, and financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. Also, the study was financed in part by the Chilean National Commission of Research (CONICYT) - Chilean Ministry of Science and Technology, folio 72180019.