Emotional intelligence intervention in older adults to improve adaptation and reduce negative mood

Abstract

Objectives: Emotional intelligence (EI) is a strong predictor of negative mood. Applying emotional skills correctly can help to increase positive emotional states and reduce negative ones. This study aims to implement EI intervention designed to improve clarity, repair EI dimensions and coping strategies, and reduce negative mood in older adults. Design: Participants were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Setting: Participants were evaluated individually before and after the intervention. Participants: Participants included 111 healthy older adults; 51 in the treatment group and 60 in the control group. Intervention: An EI program was implemented. The program was administered over 10 sessions lasting 90 min each. Measurements: EI dimension (attention, clarity, and repair), coping strategies, hopelessness, and mood were assessed. Results: Analysis of variance for repeated measures was applied. In the treatment group, scores on clarity and emotional repair increased and attention to emotions decreased; problem-focused coping (problem-solving, positive reappraisal, and seeking social support) showed significant increases, whereas emotion-focused coping (negative self-focused and overt emotional expression) obtained significant decreases; scores on negative mood measures declined significantly. Conclusions: An intervention based on EI is effective in older adults. After the EI intervention, the participants showed significant increases in their levels of clarity and emotional repair and intermediate levels of attention. In addition, the intervention was found to influence adaptation results, increasing the use of adaptive coping strategies and decreasing the use of maladaptive strategies, as well as reducing hopelessness and depressive symptoms.

Are Coping Strategies, Emotional Abilities, and Resilience Predictors of Well-Being? Comparison of Linear and Non-Linear Methodologies

“…The results show how EI, problem-focused coping strategies, and resilience influence emotional and cognitive well-being. This suggests that these variables may be key elements in promoting well-being, as previous studies have shown [ 14 , 18 , 19 ]. The dimensions of emotional clarity and emotional repair intervene in positive affect and negative affect, whereas emotional attention influences negative affect.…”

“…EI, problem-focused coping strategies, and resilience are key to adaptation processes [ 4 , 18 , 19 ]. These constructs facilitate appropriate responses in stressful situations, and decrease maladaptive emotional reactions, promoting positive moods and reducing the negative ones [ 4 , 20 ].…”

Wisdom and fluid intelligence are dissociable in healthy older adults

“…For example, a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed that nearly half of the psychosocial/behavioral interventions improved components of wisdom such as emotional regulation, empathy, and compassion with medium-to-large effect sizes (Lee et al, 2020). Intervention programs in healthy older adults have also been found to significantly increase overall "emotional intelligence," which encompasses various wisdom-related skills such as emotion regulation and awareness (Delhom et al, 2020). A recent RCT of a group intervention labeled "Raise Your Resilience" improved not only resilience and perceived stress but also overall wisdom, using SD-WISE in 89 older residents of five senior housing communities (Treichler et al, 2020).…”

Trait emotional intelligence in old age

“…There is a severe dearth of trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) studies in the field of gerontology and geriatrics and it is in this specific context that Delhom et al (2020) should be welcomed. This brief commentary discusses key issues arising from Delhom et al's study, but also focuses on generally important themes concerning the role of trait EI in old age.…”