An Italian contribution to the study of the validity and reliability of the trait meta-mood scale

Abstract

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is a field of study that is receiving increasingly attention in the literature, due to its relevance to a series of aspects of human psychological and social functioning.

Aims: This study used archival data from an Italian sample encompassing 885 nonclinical adults, to contribute to the study of the validity and reliability of the Trait Meta Mood-Scale (TMMS), a widely used measure of self-perceived EI.

Method: Statistical analyses focused on internal consistency, factor structure and concurrent validity of an Italian TMMS version.

Results: Results confirmed previous international studies supporting the cross-cultural adaptability of the TMMS, showing adequate reliability and validity indexes for all TMMS scores.

Conclusions: EI may be measured via self-report. Its relationship to psychopathology, however, deserves more research, as certain components of EI correlate positively with psychological suffering.

Keywords:

• emotional intelligence
• TMMS
• validity
• reliability
• cross-cultural

Declaration of interest

The study was conducted at the Department of Psychology of University of Turin and at the Department of Psychology of University of Milano-Bicocca. Both universities are located in Italy. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.