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Cited by 335Emotional Intelligence and PerformanceSocial Skills and EducationPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Emotional plasticity: Conditions and effects of improving emotional competence in adulthood.

Kotsou, Ilios, Nelis, Delphine, Grégoire, Jacques, Mikolajczak, Moïra·2011·Journal of Applied Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0023047
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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate (a) whether it is possible to increase emotional competence (EC) in adulthood; (b) whether this improvement results in better mental, physical, and social adjustment; (c) whether this improvement can be maintained 1 year later; and (d) whether these benefits are accompanied by a reduction in stress-hormone secretion (i.e., cortisol). One hundred and thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to an EC-enhancing intervention (in group format) or to a control group. Participants in the intervention group underwent a specifically designed 15-hr intervention targeting the 5 core emotional competencies, complemented with a 4-week e-mail follow-up. Results reveal that the level of emotional competencies increased significantly in the intervention group in contrast with the control group. This increase resulted in lower cortisol secretion, enhanced subjective and physical well-being, as well as improved quality of social and marital relationships in the intervention group. No significant change occurred in the control group. Peer reports on EC and quality of relationships confirmed these results. These data suggest that emotional competencies can be improved, with effective benefits on personal and interpersonal functioning lasting for at least 1 year. The theoretical implications of these results as well as their practical implications for the construction and the development of effective emotional competencies interventions are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0023047

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  • Changes in trait EI after training are evident after a few weeks of training and are maintained for at least one year subsequently.

    “These changes are evident after a few weeks of training and are maintained for at least one year subsequently (Kotsou, Nelis, Gregoire, & Mikolajczak, 2011).”

    From Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research (2016) · cites this paper as Kotsou, Nelis, Gregoire, & Mikolajczak, 2011

  • The second documented benefit is an improvement in self-reported physical health.

    “The second benefit is an improvement in selfreported physical health, which is also reflected in biological changes, such as a 14% drop in diurnal cortisol secretion in Kotsou et al.'s (2011) study and a 9.7% drop in glycated hemoglobin in Karahan and Yalcin's (2009) study.”

    From Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research (2016) · cites this paper as Kotsou et al., 2011

  • In Kotsou et al.'s (2011) study, there was a 14% drop in diurnal cortisol secretion.

    “The second benefit is an improvement in selfreported physical health, which is also reflected in biological changes, such as a 14% drop in diurnal cortisol secretion in Kotsou et al.'s (2011) study and a 9.7% drop in glycated hemoglobin in Karahan and Yalcin's (2009) study.”

    From Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research (2016) · cites this paper as Kotsou et al., 2011

  • The third documented benefit is improved quality of marital and social relationships.

    “The third documented benefit is improved quality of marital and social relationships (Kotsou et al., 2011), with a remarkable agreement between participant and spouse (or friend) reports.”

    From Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research (2016) · cites this paper as Kotsou et al., 2011

  • In Kotsou et al.'s (2011) study, there was remarkable agreement between participant and spouse (or friend) reports.

    “The third documented benefit is improved quality of marital and social relationships (Kotsou et al., 2011), with a remarkable agreement between participant and spouse (or friend) reports.”

    From Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research (2016) · cites this paper as Kotsou et al., 2011

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Authors
Kotsou, I., Nelis, D., Grégoire, J., & Mikolajczak, M.
Affiliations
UCLouvain (BE)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Applied Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2011
Volume
96
Issue
4
Pages
827-839
ISSN
  • 0021-9010 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1854
DOI
10.1037/a0023047
OpenAlex
W2153901098
Cited by
335
References
129
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 10
FWCI
15.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Libraries (Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), l'Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université Saint-Louis (USL-B)) (submittedVersion)
  • Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Région Wallonne
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotional Intelligence and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Education › Social Skills and Education
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
emotional competence, cortisol, stress hormones, well-being, social adaptation, marital relationships, interpersonal functioning, adult development, intervention maintenance
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Belgium, Emotions, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Psychological Tests, Psychotherapy, Social Adjustment, Stress, Psychological, Biomarkers, Treatment Outcome, Cultural Competency, Emotional Intelligence, Self Report

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