The Incremental Validity of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A criticism leveled against the conceptualization of emotional intelligence (EI) as a personality trait is that it overlaps considerably with the higher order personality dimensions and, therefore, has weak utility. To investigate this criticism, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to synthesize the literature examining the incremental validity of the 2 adult self-report forms of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Twenty-four articles reporting 114 incremental validity analyses of the TEIQue were reviewed according to the studies' methodological features. Additionally, data from 18 studies (providing 105 effect sizes) were pooled in a meta-analysis. Results suggest that the TEIQue consistently explains incremental variance in criteria pertaining to different areas of functioning, beyond higher order personality dimensions and other emotion-related variables. The pooled effect size was relatively small, but statistically and practically significant (ΔR(2) = .06, SE = .0116; 95% CI [.03, .08]). The number of covariates controlled for, the form of the TEIQue, and the focus on higher order personality dimensions versus other individual-difference constructs as baseline predictors did not affect the effect size. Analyses conducted at the factor level indicated that the incremental contribution is mainly due to the well-being and self-control factors of trait EI. Methodological issues and directions for future research are discussed

Psychophysiological Correlates of Sexually and Non-Sexually Motivated Attention to Film Clips in a Workload Task

Some authors have speculated that the cognitive component (P3) of the Event-Related Potential (ERP) can function as a psychophysiological measure of sexual interest. The aim of this study was to determine if the P3 ERP component in a workload task can be used as a specific and objective measure of sexual motivation by comparing the neurophysiologic response to stimuli of motivational relevance with different levels of valence and arousal. A total of 30 healthy volunteers watched different films clips with erotic, horror, social-positive and social-negative content, while answering an auditory oddball paradigm. Erotic film clips resulted in larger interference when compared to both the social-positive and auditory alone conditions. Horror film clips resulted in the highest levels of interference with smaller P3 amplitudes than erotic and also than social-positive, social-negative and auditory alone condition. No gender differences were found. Both horror and erotic film clips significantly decreased heart rate (HR) when compared to both social-positive and social-negative films. The erotic film clips significantly increased the skin conductance level (SCL) compared to the social-negative films. The horror film clips significantly increased the SCL compared to both social-positive and social-negative films. Both the highly arousing erotic and non-erotic (horror) movies produced the largest decrease in the P3 amplitude, a decrease in the HR and an increase in the SCL. These data support the notion that this workload task is very sensitive to the attentional resources allocated to the film clip, although they do not act as a specific index of sexual interest. Therefore, the use of this methodology seems to be of questionable utility as a specific measure of sexual interest or as an objective measure of the severity of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Perceived connections between information and communication technology use and mental symptoms among young adults - a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prospective associations have been found between high use of information and communication technology (ICT) and reported mental symptoms among young adult university students, but the causal mechanisms are unclear. Our aim was to explore possible explanations for associations between high ICT use and symptoms of depression, sleep disorders, and stress among young adults in order to propose a model of possible pathways to mental health effects that can be tested epidemiologically.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a qualitative interview study with 16 women and 16 men (21-28 years), recruited from a cohort of university students on the basis of reporting high computer (n = 28) or mobile phone (n = 20) use at baseline and reporting mental symptoms at the one-year follow-up. Semi-structured interviews were performed, with open-ended questions about possible connections between the use of computers and mobile phones, and stress, depression, and sleep disturbances. The interview data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and summarized in a model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Central factors appearing to explain high quantitative ICT use were personal dependency, and demands for achievement and availability originating from the domains of work, study, social life, and individual aspirations. Consequences included mental overload, neglect of other activities and personal needs, time pressure, role conflicts, guilt feelings, social isolation, physical symptoms, worry about electromagnetic radiation, and economic problems. Qualitative aspects (destructive communication and information) were also reported, with consequences including vulnerability, misunderstandings, altered values, and feelings of inadequacy. User problems were a source of frustration. Altered ICT use as an effect of mental symptoms was reported, as well as possible positive effects of ICT on mental health.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The concepts and ideas of the young adults with high ICT use and mental symptoms generated a model of possible paths for associations between ICT exposure and mental symptoms. Demands for achievement and availability as well as personal dependency were major causes of high ICT exposure but also direct sources of stress and mental symptoms. The proposed model shows that factors in different domains may have an impact and should be considered in epidemiological and intervention studies.</p

Doing online research involving university students with disabilities: Methodological issues

Changes in how disability is understood have determined an increase in the number of people with disabilities who study at university. Several studies have aimed to investigate the experiences of students with disabilities. However, one difficulty in these studies is that very different types of disability (e.g., reading disabilities as compared to motor disability) are grouped together under the broad label of \u201cstudents with disability\u201d. Recently, the increase in access to computers and technology has made it possible to distribute questionnaires through the Internet and reach a higher number of participants; however, the use of online questionnaires for conducting research on the experiences of students with disabilities poses theoretical, methodological and ethical challenges to the researcher. Some of these issues are common to questionnaires conducted both online and offline; others, however, are typical of online studies. Here we will review these problems and their consequences in terms of research validity, along with some possible solutions that may minimize the risks of harming the privacy of participants, losing responses, and biasing data

Note sulla consultazione con i "nuovi" pazienti

Il resoconto di due consultazioni con giovani adulti e di una consultazione con un bambino e i suoi genitori forniscono lo spunto per una riflessione sui problemi posti dalla richiesta di aiuto che proviene da persone che, a causa di una mancanza di contatto con il proprio mondo interno, vivono la loro sofferenza senza un motivo apparente. Un paziente e cauto lavoro di restituzione, che a volte necessita di una distribuzione degli incontri lungo un ampio arco di tempo, è spesso necessario per favorire una comprensione del tipo di aiuto che la persona può ricevere. Si potranno così evitare invii o prese in carico premature, destinate all'impasse o all'interruzione

Disturbi affettivi e comportamento di malattia nel periodo perinatale: correlazioni tra padri e madri Affective disorders and illness behaviour in perinatal period: correlations between fathers and mothers

Secondo la teoria dell\u2019attaccamento una funzione principale dell\u2019essere genitori \ue8 fornire una \u201cbase sicura\u201d, cio\ue8 una particolare atmosfera di sicurezza e di fiducia all\u2019interno della relazione con la figura di attaccamento. Questa necessit\ue0 si manifesta anche nella vita di coppia, in particolare, durante la gravidanza e nel periodo successivo alla nascita di un figlio. Per studiare l\u2019influenza di alcuni aspetti psicologici e comportamentali nelle madri e nei padri durante il periodo perinatale, gli autori hanno studiato un campione di 40 coppie valutate dal secondo trimestre di gravidanza al primo trimestre dopo il parto. In quattro occasioni a tutti i soggetti sono stati somministrati quattro questionari: il CES-D, il Symptom Questionnaire, l\u2019Illness Behaviour Questionnaire e il Perinatal Couple Questionnaire. L\u2019analisi statistica ha evidenziato che in questo periodo i padri manifestano alterazioni emotive con oscillazioni che sono correlate con la sofferenza materna. I padri le cui compagne hanno sofferto di disturbi affettivi durante il post-partum sono risultati pi\uf9 depressi, ansiosi e irritabili, tendono a manifestare la loro sofferenza sotto forma di sintomatologia somatica e a essere preoccupati per la propria salute e per il ruolo paterno. Gli interventi psicologici sui disturbi affettivi nel periodo perinatale dovrebbero perci\uf2 riguardare non solo la madre, ma entrambi i genitori. Nelle situazioni maggiormente a rischio, un aiuto psicoterapeutico finalizzato a ridurre la sintomatologia depressiva e ansiosa, le preoccupazioni ipocondriache e le difficolt\ue0 genitoriali pu\uf2 favorire una migliore relazione di attaccamento non solo nei confronti del bambino, ma anche del proprio partner

Propriet\ue0 e applicabilit\ue0 di un test in clinica

Nella prima parte il contributo mette in rilievo le caratteristiche psicometriche e le linee guida relative alla costruzione, all\u2019applicabilit\ue0 e alla scelta dei test in psicologia clinica: modalit\ue0 di costruzione dei test (approccio teorico e approccio fattoriale), propriet\ue0 statistico-psicometriche da considerare (validit\ue0, attendibilit\ue0), norme per la somministrazione, controllo del rischio di falsificazione delle risposte, scopo della somministrazione e popolazione a cui \ue8 rivolta la somministrazione. La seconda parte del contributo riguarda l\u2019applicazione in ambito diagnostico, di verifica dei risultati dei trattamenti e nella ricerca sui costrutti teorici nella clinica. Vengono in particolare definiti i limiti dell\u2019uso dei test nella diagnosi clinica in quanto vanno considerati nella propriet\ue0 di supporto alla diagnosi, e di convalida di elementi emersi all\u2019interno di una pi\uf9 ampia valutazione clinica