Emotional intelligence in young women from five cultures: A TEIQue-SF invariance study using the omnicultural composite approach inside the IRT framework

Abstract

Using the omnicultural composite (OCC) approach within an Item Response Theory framework, the present study aimed both to provide evidence of the invariance of the emotional intelligence facets (emotionality, self-control, well-being, and sociability) across women from Western to Eastern countries and to detect unique cultural patterns. Samples of women from Canada (N = 360), China (N = 216), Italy (N = 209), Lebanon (N = 295), and Spain (N = 291) were administered the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short form (TEIQue-SF). Each cultural group was compared with its unique OCC obtained by merging the other groups. Results showed that emotionality and well-being facets were invariant across all respondents. A difference in self-control was found when comparing Chinese women with women belonging to different cultures and in sociability when comparing Lebanese women with those belonging to different cultures. The current findings provide a preliminary basis for studying EI in women across cultures.