Trait Emotional Intelligence as a Measure of Introspective Limits: Re-Analysis of the Trait Meta Mood Scale and Evidence of Incremental Validity in Prediction of Symptom Underreporting Among Men

Abstract

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) is related to mental, psychosomatic, and physical health as well as to work performance. However, given the construct’s associations with the Big Five and alexithymia, investigations on its incremental validity appear paramount. Yet, we propose that trait EI may also serve as a measure of introspective limits that may account for well-known sex differences in self-reports of mental health. This hypothesis was tested with the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS) in an Austrian community sample (N=364). Preliminary structural and psychometric analyses suggested that the TMMS is better represented by a factor structure that allows for a method factor for negatively keyed items. Validity analyses confirmed expected links with the Big Five and alexithymia. Alexithymia was also associated with the tendency to score higher on the negatively keyed items of the TMMS. Incremental validity of trait EI over and above the Big Five and alexithymia in the prediction of mental health was found only for men and only for the TMMS Attention scale. Further analyses confirmed that Attention moderated sex differences in self-reports of mental health, suggesting that emotional self-awareness may be conceived as a response bias indicator among men.