title: The Effects of Emotional Competences Training among Unemployed Adults: A Longitudinal Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed at analyzing whether training in emotional competences (EC) would increase the level of perceived EC among unemployed adults, whether the unemployment duration would moderate the effects of the training and whether the changes in EC would predict changes in the levels of perceived stress, somatic complaints, mental health, and mood states.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five participants were randomly allocated to an EC training program, or a control group. Following a controlled experimental design, the participants completed all the measures prior to the intervention (T1), one month later (T2) and six months after the first data collection (T3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that change in EC after the training depended on the duration of unemployment. The difference between the experimental and control groups in EC after the training was significant when the participants had been unemployed for less time. In addition, the results indicated that changes in EC were found to be significant predictors of changes in perceived stress, mental health, somatic complaints, and vigor and confusion (mood dimensions) six months after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that unemployment duration plays a crucial role in determining the range and intensity of intervention effects.
authors.affiliation: University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodzic
authors.affiliation: University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ripoll
authors.affiliation: University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zenasni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010465:Perception; D011897:Random Allocation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: emotional competences; training; unemployment; well-being