Trait Emotional Intelligence and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis
Abstract
This meta-analysis of six studies involving a total of 603 participants found a significant association (r = .32) between trait emotional intelligence and romantic relationship satisfaction. The association between the emotional intelligence of an individual and his or her self-reported romantic relationship satisfaction was significant, as was the relationship between an individual's emotional intelligence and the partner's level of satisfaction with the relationship. The association between trait emotional intelligence and romantic relationship satisfaction provides a foundation for future research, such as intervention studies aimed at increasing emotional intelligence in couples in order to increase romantic relationship satisfaction.
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Trait EI has positive relationships with marital satisfaction, relationship quality, and constructive communication between partners, and negative relationships with detrimental communication patterns like mutual avoidance and withholding.
“Characteristic findings include positive relationships with marital satisfaction, relationship quality, and constructive communication between partners, and negative relationships with detrimental communication patterns, like mutual avoidance and withholding (for a meta-analysis on EI and marital satisfaction, see Malouff, Schutte, & Thorsteinsson, 2014).”
From Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research (2016) · cites this paper as Malouff, Schutte, & Thorsteinsson, 2014
Cites
Emotional intelligence: An integrative meta-analysis and cascading model
Joseph, D. L., & Newman, D. A. (2010) · Journal of Applied Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0017286 · Cited by 1,722 · cited 1× · see citing works
“High levels of trait emotional intelligence are related to numerous positive intrapersonal and interpersonal positive outcomes (Joseph & Newman, 2010; Van Rooy & Viswesvaran, 2004).”
BackgroundBusby, D. M., Christensen, C., Crane, D. R., & Larson, J. H. (1995) · Journal of Marital and Family Therapy · doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.1995.tb00163.x · Cited by 985 · see citing works
Nelis, D., Kotsou, I., Quoidbach, J., Hansenne, M., Weytens, F., Dupuis, P., & Mikolajczak, M. (2011) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0021554 · Cited by 472 · see citing works
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Developments in Trait Emotional Intelligence Research
Petrides, K. V., Mikolajczak, M., Mavroveli, S., Sanchez-Ruiz, M.-J., Furnham, A., & Pérez-González, J.-C. (2016) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/1754073916650493 · Cited by 564 · see citing works
Connections between emotional intelligence and workplace flourishing
Schutte, N. S., & Loi, N. M. (2014) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.03.031 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Self-citationEmotional intelligence, emotion regulation and affectivity in adults seeking treatment for obesity
Andrei, F., Nuccitelli, C., Mancini, G., Reggiani, G. M., & Trombini, E. (2018) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.015 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
- Authors
- Malouff, J. M., Schutte, N. S., & Thorsteinsson, E. B.
- Affiliations
- University of New England (AU)
- Venue
- The American Journal of Family Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-12-23
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 53-66
- ISSN
- 0192-6187 (ISSN-L)
- 1521-0383
- OpenAlex
- W2110089660
- Cited by
- 181
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Family Therapy (publishedVersion)
- RUNE (Research UNE) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotional Intelligence and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Education › Social Skills and Education
- Keywords
- trait emotional intelligence, romantic relationship satisfaction, couples, partner satisfaction, relationship quality, emotional intelligence intervention
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