Trait and ability emotional intelligence as predictors of alcohol consumption in adolescents

Background: Past studies have suggested that emotional intelligence (EI) is a new construct that may help to explain alcohol abuse. This study is one of the first to examine the predictive capacity of both trait and ability EI, based on the Mayer and Salovey model, with regards to distinct variables of alcohol consumption in an adolescent population. Method: A survey was conducted on 844 school children who completed a self-report and performance-based EI test, as well as a selection of items on alcohol consumption. Results: Regression analyses revealed that trait El was the most predictive. Clarity and emotional Repair showed significant negative correlations with alcohol consumption, as opposed to emotional Attention. Likewise, the abilities of Perceiving and Using emotions were found to be protective factors for consumption in schoolchildren. Conclusion: The results suggest that trait and ability EI are complementary dimensions that may help in the understanding and intervention of alcohol abuse in adolescents. The results are discussed in the El research context, as well as their educational implications and future research lines.