Trait Emotional Intelligence as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Satisfaction with Life

Abstract

This research examined the extent to which psychological distress is associated with satisfaction with life, and investigated whether trait emotional intelligence moderates this relationship. In a broad-based international sample of 370 adults, psychological distress predicted satisfaction with life after controlling for age, gender, country of origin, and trait emotional intelligence. Trait emotional intelligence was related to lower levels of psychological distress and greater life satisfaction. The relationship between psychological distress and life satisfaction was moderated by trait emotional intelligence. Trait emotional intelligence may act as an adaptive coping resource in that the negative association between psychological distress and life satisfaction became significantly weaker for respondents with high trait emotional intelligence.