Trait emotional intelligence (TEI) has been shown to have predictive capacity for certain dimensions of adaptation, such as life satisfaction and affectivity. The Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS), based on the EI ability model, has been shown to have predictive capacity for subjective well-being through its three factors (attention, clarity, and emotional repair), but little is known about the mediating role played by these dimensions, both among themselves and in relation to other variables. The aim of the present study was to analyse the direct and indirect relationships between the TMMS factors and subjective well-being dimensions, using structural equation modelling, also including self-efficacy in the model as a mediator of these relationships. Attention was found to have a negative effect on subjective well-being, which was inhibited when clarity and repair were included as mediators. Self-efficacy played a major role since it increased the positive effect of clarity and repair on subjective well-being. This study provides evidence of the advantage of using the TMMS factors separately and of studying their mediational role in order to better understand the processes underlying the manner in which TEI influences subjective well-being.

The Emotion Matching Task (EMT; Izard, Haskins, Schultz, Trentacosta, & King, 2003) was developed to assess emotion knowledge in preschoolers and was demonstrated to show adequate convergent and predictive validity in an American sample (Morgan, Izard, & King, 2010). In light of the need for valid measures for assessing emotion knowledge in Spanish-speaking children, we adapted the EMT for preschoolers in Spain and conducted a psychometric validation with 110 Spanish children, aged 3 to 6. The EMT Spanish version showed good internal consistency and demonstrated expected concurrent validity with externalizing problems and adaptive abilities. Therefore the current study indicates that the adapted EMT is a valid tool to assess preschool children’s emotion knowledge in Spain.

Previous research on the relationships between age, sex, ethnic group or previous victimization experience and fear of crime is controversial, as inconsistent results have been obtained, many of them attributable to a lack of methodological and conceptual consensus. We propose the study of self-protective behaviours motivated by fear of crime as a useful alternative that pays attention to the consequences of fear for urban quality of life. A survey with a representative sample of residents in a major city in Spain provides evidence about sex and age differences in self-protective behaviours against crime. Results from the ‘classical’ vulnerability and victimization models are discussed and the suitability of the evolutionary and the routine activities perspectives is also considered.

Para ello, se presentan brevemente las perspectivas teóricas actuales para posteriormente avanzar en una serie de criterios metodológicos tales como la descripción y validez de los procedimientos de selección de los ítems y su validez ante sesgos de respuesta; fiabilidad de las escalas; y validez estructural, discriminante, convergente/divergente y de constructo. Por último se presentan diversos criterios de clasificación de los sujetos según estas escalas, así como las técnicas de análisis de datos más apropiadas. Además, se ha intentado recoger las críticas y discusiones que desde las diferentes líneas de investigación se están proponiendo.

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