title: Emotional Intelligence and cognitive abilities - associations and sex differences.
abstract: In order to expand on previous research, this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and cognitive abilities in healthy adults with a special focus on potential sex differences. EI was assessed by means of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso-Emotional-Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), whereas cognitive abilities were investigated using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), which measures key aspects of cognitive functioning, i.e. verbal memory, working memory, motor speed, verbal fluency, attention and processing speed, and reasoning and problem solving. 137 subjects (65% female) with a mean age of 38.7 ± 11.8 years were included into the study. While males and females were comparable with regard to EI, men achieved significantly higher BACS composite scores and outperformed women in the BACS subscales motor speed, attention and processing speed, and reasoning and problem solving. Verbal fluency significantly predicted EI, whereas the MSCEIT subscale understanding emotions significantly predicted the BACS composite score. Our findings support previous research and emphasize the relevance of considering cognitive abilities when assessing ability EI in healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics , Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pardeller
authors.affiliation: a Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics , Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4385-1863
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frajo-Apor
authors.affiliation: a Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics , Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kemmler
authors.affiliation: a Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics , Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Emotional Intelligence; cognitive abilities; sex differences