Emotional Clarity Research Articles

Empathic accuracy and interpersonal emotion regulation in close relationships.

Interpersonal emotion regulation commonly occurs in the context of close relationships. The present study examined whether accurately knowing the emotions that one's romantic partner would feel in a given situation was associated with the effectiveness of interpersonal emotion regulation attempts. One partner from 92 romantic dyads (N = 184) was randomly assigned to the role of the target, and the other was assigned to the role of the regulator. Each participant read four vignettes depicting emotion-inducing scenarios. Targets rated the emotions they would feel in each situation, whereas regulators reported how they thought their partner would feel in each situation. Targets were then asked to describe what their partner could say to help them feel good or better in each situation, using an open-ended response format. The regulators were asked to describe what they would say to their partners to help them feel good or better in each situation. Accuracy was defined as the mean difference in ratings between the regulator's estimates of their partner's emotions and their actual emotion ratings across the scenarios. Effectiveness of regulation was defined as the mean score of similarity between regulator's open-ended responses and target's open-ended responses as rated by independent coders. The results showed that empathic accuracy significantly predicted regulation effectiveness. We also found that individual differences in regulators' emotional clarity scores predicted empathic accuracy. This study sheds light on the importance of accurately perceiving a partner's emotions for effective regulation in close relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

성인의 내면화된 수치심과 대인관계문제의 관계:정서인식명확성과 자기자비의 매개효과

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of emotional clarity and self-compassion in the relationship between internalized shame and interpersonal problems among adults aged 18 and older. Methods An online survey was conducted to measure internalized shame, interpersonal problems, emotional clarity, and self-compassion among adults aged 18 and older. A total of 443 participants (122 males and 321 females) were included in the analysis, which was performed using SPSS 29.0 and AMOS 26.0 statistical software. Results First, internalized shame, interpersonal problems, emotional clarity, and self-compassion were all found to be significantly correlated. Second, emotional clarity mediated the relationship between internalized shame and interpersonal problems. However, self-compassion did not show a significant mediating effect in this relationship. Third, a dual mediation effect of both self-compassion and emotional clarity was observed in the relationship between internalized shame and interpersonal problems. Conclusions The findings suggest that when adult clients report interpersonal problems, it is crucial to consider internalized shame and focus interventions on emotional clarity and self-compassion. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

Using machine learning methods to identify trajectories of change and predict responders and non-responders to short-term dynamic therapy

Objectives Predicting therapy responders can significantly improve clinical outcomes. This study aims to identify predictors of response to short-term dynamic therapy. Methods Data from 95 patients who underwent 16-session therapy were analyzed using machine learning. Weekly progress was monitored with the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ45) and Target Complaints (TC). A machine learning model identified change trajectories for responders and non-responders, with a random forest algorithm and elastic net modeling predicting trajectory group membership using pre-treatment data. Results A weak positive relationship was found between the trajectories of the two outcome variables. The results of the different analysis methods were compared and discussed. Important predictors of OQ45 trajectories, based on random forest modeling, included initial symptom severity, difficulties in emotion regulation, coldness, avoidant attachment, conscientiousness, interpersonal problems, non-acceptance of negative emotion, neuroticism, emotional clarity, impulsivity, and emotion awareness (72.8% accuracy). Initial problem severity, self-scarifying extraversion, and non-assertiveness were the most dominant predictors for TC trajectories (62.8% accuracy). Conclusions These findings offer data-driven insights for selecting short-term dynamic therapy. Predicting response for the OQ45, a nomothetic measure, does not extend to the TC, an idiographic measure, and vice versa, highlighting the importance of multidimensional outcome evaluations for personalized treatment.

Emotion regulation strategies as moderators of the relationship between negative life events and trait anxiety

BackgroundAnxiety commonly occurs after experiencing negative life events. However, the role of emotion regulation strategies in moderating the relationship between negative life events and anxiety remains unclear. The current study 1) examines the associations between emotion regulation strategies and trait anxiety, and 2) explores whether the relationship between negative life events and trait anxiety is moderated by emotion regulation strategies, in particular, adaptative strategies such as cognitive reappraisal. MethodsWe used data from 1384 adolescents and young adults (ages 12–27) who completed measures of negative life events, emotion regulation strategies, and trait anxiety. Emotion regulation was measured using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form. ResultsMultiple regression analyses showed that limited access to emotion regulation strategies, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior, lack of emotional awareness, lack of emotional clarity, nonacceptance of emotional responses, and use of cognitive reappraisal were associated with trait anxiety. Additionally, the positive association between negative life events and trait anxiety was moderated by difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior and use of cognitive reappraisal. Sex differences were apparent for difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior. Age-based analyses revealed that these interactions were specific to young adults. LimitationsLimitations include a cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report measures. ConclusionsLess use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies was associated with greater trait anxiety. Further, the relationship between negative life events and trait anxiety in young adults may depend on one's ability to engage in goal-directed behavior and use cognitive reappraisal.

Emotion Regulation Within Context: Understanding Buffering Effects on Chronic Pain and PTSD Among Black Women Who've Experienced Sexual Assault and Racism.

Previous research has found that both racism and sexual assault are related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and chronic pain. Black women have unique relationships to these stressors situated within contexts of oppression, and little is known about factors that may exacerbate these associations among Black women. Among Black women experiencing both racism and sexual assault (n = 148), emotion clarity moderated the relation between PTSD and chronic pain, β = .0126, SE = 0.0059, p < .05. Our findings support the importance of considering the place that psychological constructs like emotion regulation and traumatic stressors hold in contexts of oppression.

The mediating effect of problem-focused coping on the relationship between emotional clarity and mental health among older adults.

Individuals who can recognize emotions well are better able to identify and accept their feelings and manage them. This study examined the mediation of problem-focused coping in the pathway through which emotional clarity predicts higher life satisfaction and lower depression in older adults. In total, 150 older adults (75 male and 75 female, aged 60-69 years, with a mean of 64.53 [SD = 2.49]) participated in a face-to-face survey, answering questions on emotional clarity, problem-focused coping, life satisfaction, and depression. Emotional clarity was associated with higher life satisfaction and lower depression in older adults. People who were aware of their emotions well were in better emotional condition. Mediation analysis revealed that problem-focused coping mediated the positive relationship between emotional clarity and life satisfaction and the negative relationship between emotional clarity and depression. Older adults who understand their own emotions tend to deal with emotional events in a problem-focused manner, leading to high life satisfaction and low depression. This study identifies cognitive conditions for increasing life satisfaction and preventing depression in later life and offers suggestions for personal and social efforts to maintain mental health.

Social contexts are associated with higher emotional awareness than nonsocial contexts: Evidence in a sample of people with and without major depressive disorder.

Growing evidence suggests that social contexts may prompt qualitatively distinct experiences of emotions than nonsocial contexts. In this study of people's naturalistic daily emotional experiences, we examined in adults with and without major depressive disorder (MDD) whether experiencing emotions in a social context (with others) versus nonsocial context (without others) was associated with greater emotional clarity and attention to one's emotional experience (i.e., emotional awareness). Based on evidence that social stimuli are highly salient to social species, we predicted that interactions with social others-and especially close social others-would be associated with greater emotional awareness. We furthermore expected that individuals with MDD, who tend to have diminished emotional clarity and social deficits, might experience less emotional awareness in social settings than healthy controls. Across a 2-week experience sampling study that concluded in 2019, we assessed emotional awareness when people were interacting with others (vs. not) and interacting with close (vs. nonclose) others among adults with current MDD (n = 53), remitted MDD (n = 80), and healthy controls (n = 87). As expected, attention to emotion and emotional clarity were higher in social versus nonsocial contexts and when interacting with close versus nonclose others. Contrary to expectations that these effects would be weaker among those with current MDD, the current MDD group showed enhanced emotional clarity in social versus nonsocial settings compared to the other two groups. Insofar as emotional clarity is beneficial to well-being, these findings suggest those with MDD may especially benefit from social contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

12581 Association Between AMH And Psychological Symptoms Across The BMI Spectrum In Peri-menarcheal Adolescents: Preliminary Findings

Abstract Disclosure: H. Vanden Brink: None. K.C. McCormick: None. M.E. Lujan: None. J. Chang: None. L. Ipp: None. A. Alladeen: None. J. Mendle: None. Introduction: Depression, anxiety, and disordered eating are associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in adults and adolescents with PCOS, and significantly impact quality of life as well as intervention and PCOS management success. Elevated AMH and obesity are known risk factors for future PCOS risk. Thus, the objective was to determine whether AMH was associated with the degree of psychological symptoms in the peri-menarcheal years across the adiposity spectrum. Methods: 40 females (n=12 pre-menarcheal, n=28 &amp;lt;2 years post-menarche) underwent a non-fasting blood draw, anthropometry, menstrual history, and a series of surveys to evaluate depression (CES-DC), anxiety (MASC), perceptions of pubertal-related change (POPS), and transdiagnostic psychological processes (rumination, emotional clarity) which can contribute to, and are risk factors for, psychopathology. Anti-mullerian hormone was measured using picoAMH assay (Motive Biosciences Inc). Linear regression analyses were conducted to determine whether AMH, body habitus (lean [n=26], overweight [n=7], obesity [n=7]) were associated with psychological symptoms. A BMI category-by-AMH interaction was included to test the hypothesis that relationship between psychological symptoms and AMH was greater among those living with obesity, who are at an increased risk of progression to PCOS. Results: In the full model, depression scores were positively associated with AMH (p=0.035), and an AMH*BMIcat interaction was trending (p=0.059), such that the association between AMH and depression scores among those with obesity was greater (p=0.026). POPS was positively associated with AMH, only after inclusion of BMI (p=0.029). Lower body appreciation scores and a higher drive for thinness were associated with higher AMH only among those with obesity (BAS: interaction term p=0.087; parameter estimate AMH*OB p=0.045; EDI: interaction term: 0.061, AMH*OB parameter estimate, p=0.019). Rumination and anxiety also demonstrated a BMI-dependent association with AMH; both were positively associated with AMH among participants with obesity (rumination, interaction p=0.014, AMH*OB parameter estimate p=0.007; anxiety interaction p=0.0009, AMH*OB parameter estimate p=0.0002), but the inverse was detected in lean participants (rumination AMH*Lean parameter estimate p=0.014; anxiety AMH*Lean parameter estimate p=0.009). Conclusion: While preliminary, these findings suggest that obesity and elevated AMH in the pre- and early post-menarcheal years is associated with increased symptoms that could affect psychological well-being symptoms. Research is ongoing to validate these findings in a larger, more diverse cohort and to assess subsequent PCOS risk. Presentation: 6/3/2024

12559 Objective Versus Subjective Measures Of Reproductive Development And Psychological Well-Being In Peri-Menarcheal Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Abstract Disclosure: K.C. McCormick: None. M.E. Lujan: None. J. Chang: None. L. Ipp: None. A. Alladeen: None. H. Lamar: None. J. Mendle: None. H. Vanden Brink: None. Introduction: Risk of psychopathology emerges during the pubertal and peri-menarcheal years; however objective physiological measures of maturation often differ from adolescents’ own reports of their development. Understanding how psychological symptoms emerge in relation to both objective and subjective evaluations of reproductive development can provide critical insights into mental health risk and variability in psychological symptom severity during the pre-menarcheal and early post-menarcheal years. Methods: 52 females 9-15 years old (n=16 pre-menarcheal, n=36 &amp;lt;2 years post-menarche) underwent a non-fasting blood draw for reproductive hormones (estradiol, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)), anthropometry, detailed reproductive and menstrual history, and a series of surveys to evaluate depression (CES-DC), anxiety (MASC), perceptions of pubertal-related change (POPS), and transdiagnostic psychological processes (rumination, emotional clarity) which can contribute to, and are risk factors for, psychopathology. Whether psychological symptoms are associated with objective measures (menarche, gynecological age, reproductive hormone concentrations) versus subjective measures (self-reported tanner stage, severity of dysmenorrhea) were contrasted using t-tests and Pearson Correlation Coefficient analyses (JMP Pro (v17)). Results: The majority of participants (26/36 post-menarcheal and 11/16 pre-menarcheal) exceeded the standard cut-off of 15 for depressive symptoms, consistent with research on mental health symptomatology in this cohort of youth. POPS scores were higher (39±10.9) in post-menarcheal versus pre-menarcheal (31±12.6) adolescents indicating post-menarcheal adolescents reported more puberty-linked change in their lives (Pttest=0.04). Lower emotional clarity was associated with higher AMH concentrations (r= -0.27, p=0.0944). Depressive symptoms tended to be greater (27+14.8) in those with moderate dysmenorrhea versus mild/no dysmenorrhea (19±11.1, Pttest=0.08). Depression (r=0.30, p=0.032) and anxiety symptoms (r=0.32, p=0.027), and rumination (r=0.30, p=0.033) were associated with higher self-reported Tanner scores; POPS was trending (r=0.25, p=0.0776). Neither estradiol nor FSH were associated with any measures of psychological well-being. Conclusion: Both objective measures of reproductive development and adolescent self-reports may help providers assess individual vulnerability to internalizing psychopathology, such as depression and anxiety. Additionally, given population level increases in depressive symptoms in adolescents, researchers should avoid utilizing simple cutoffs for depression and anxiety, which lack specificity and overlook critical variability which can further elucidate mental and physical health dynamics. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Emotional clarity in daily life is associated with reduced indecisiveness and greater goal pursuit.

Affect-as-information theory posits that understanding of one's emotions (i.e., emotional clarity) can be leveraged to make decisions and attain goals. Furthermore, recent work has emphasized the dynamic nature of emotional clarity and its fluctuations in daily life. Therefore, we sought to test how momentary emotional clarity, experienced in everyday life, would be associated with levels of indecisiveness and goal pursuit. Following affect-as-information, we hypothesized that emotional clarity would be associated with lower indecisiveness but greater goal pursuit. We also hypothesized that indecisiveness would be associated with less goal pursuit with momentary emotional clarity being a potential moderator of this association. Adults (N = 215, Mage = 44.3) experiencing a range of depression, a disorder characterized by indecisiveness, completed a self-report measure of indecisiveness and 2 weeks of experience sampling assessing momentary emotional clarity, goal pursuit, and negative affect. Momentary emotional clarity showed robust links to lower indecisiveness and greater goal pursuit that were not accounted for by negative affect. We did not observe a link between indecisiveness and goal pursuit. Emotional clarity appears to play a role in motivational and cognitive processes that unfold in daily life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Sequential Mediating Effects of Executive Function Deficits and Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies between Emotional Clarity and Depression : Focused on 20s Adults

The Sequential Mediating Effects of Executive Function Deficits and Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies between Emotional Clarity and Depression : Focused on 20s Adults

The Relationship between Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Social Anxiety in College Students: The Mediating Effects of Emotional Clarity and Cognitive Flexibility

The Relationship between Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Social Anxiety in College Students: The Mediating Effects of Emotional Clarity and Cognitive Flexibility

Examining the association among adolescents' emotional clarity, emotion differentiation, and the regulation of negative and positive affect using a daily diary approach.

Emotional clarity and emotion differentiation (ED) are two core aspects of the application of emotional knowledge. During adolescence, novel emotional experiences result in temporary decreases of differentiation and clarity. These temporary difficulties might profoundly impact choices of regulatory strategies. And indeed, prior research has shown that lower emotional clarity and emotion differentiation are each associated with higher use of putatively maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in youth. The two constructs, however, are rarely examined together, and it remains unclear how they are associated in daily life, particularly in children and adolescents. In addition, previous studies have focused on the regulation of negative but not positive affect. To address these gaps, the present study used an intensive longitudinal design in youth. Between June 2021 and March 2022, 172 children and adolescents (M = 12.99 years) completed a 28-day diary (> 3,500 entries in total) reporting daily affect, emotional clarity, and the use of five emotion regulation strategies in response to negative and positive affect (i.e., rumination, dampening, behavioral avoidance, negative and positive suppression). As predicted, on both between- and within-person levels, higher emotional clarity was associated with decreased use of all maladaptive emotion regulation strategies after adjusting for mean affect intensity. Results for emotion differentiation were mostly nonsignificant. Only higher daily positive emotion differentiation was associated with decreased rumination. In sum, this innovative study explores multiple aspects of emotional knowledge usage and regulation during a critical developmental stage and emphasizes the role of emotional clarity in the regulation of negative and positive affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Examining the Association Among Adolescents’ Emotional Clarity, Emotion Differentiation, and the Regulation of Negative and Positive Affect Using a Daily Diary Approach

Supplemental Material for Examining the Association Among Adolescents’ Emotional Clarity, Emotion Differentiation, and the Regulation of Negative and Positive Affect Using a Daily Diary Approach

Predicting newborn birth outcomes with prenatal maternal health features and correlates in the United States: a machine learning approach using archival data

BackgroundNewborns are shaped by prenatal maternal experiences. These include a pregnant person’s physical health, prior pregnancy experiences, emotion regulation, and socially determined health markers. We used a series of machine learning models to predict markers of fetal growth and development—specifically, newborn birthweight and head circumference (HC).MethodsWe used a pre-registered archival data analytic approach. These data consisted of maternal and newborn characteristics of 594 maternal-infant dyads in the western U.S. Participants also completed a measure of emotion dysregulation. In total, there were 22 predictors of newborn HC and birthweight. We used regularized regression for predictor selection and linear prediction, followed by nonlinear models if linear models were overfit.ResultsHC was predicted best with a linear model (ridge regression). Newborn sex (male), number of living children, and maternal BMI predicted a larger HC, whereas maternal preeclampsia, number of prior preterm births, and race/ethnicity (Latina) predicted a smaller HC. Birthweight was predicted best with a nonlinear model (support vector machine). Occupational prestige (a marker similar to socioeconomic status) predicted higher birthweight, maternal race/ethnicity (non-White and non-Latina) predicted lower birthweight, and the number of living children, prior preterm births, and difficulty with emotional clarity had nonlinear effects.ConclusionsHC and birthweight were predicted by a variety of variables associated with prenatal stressful experiences, spanning medical, psychological, and social markers of health and stress. These findings may highlight the importance of viewing prenatal maternal health across multiple dimensions. Findings also suggest that assessing difficulties with emotional clarity during standard obstetric care (in the U.S.) may help identify risk for adverse newborn outcomes.

20대 학습자의 학업마음챙김척도 개발 및 타당화

Objectives The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the “Academic Mindfulness Scale(AMS)” to measure learners’ level of mindfulness regarding Learning Strategies, facing Emotional and Physical Frustration due to academic work, and the urge to overstriving for academic work. Methods To this end, we conducted EFA and an internal consistency assessment with a sample of 208 learners in their 20s. Subsequently, we evaluated the model fit by carrying out CFA on a validation sample consisting of 207 learners. Convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion validity were examined through correlational analysis between the AMS and relevant variables. Results A final 3-factor 14-item scale was derived from an estimation sample of 208 individuals. CFA results showed good fit indices with CFI of .932, TLI of .917, RMSEA of .073, and SRMR of .061. Based on the reliability analysis conducted on a validation sample of 207 individuals, the reliability analysis for each subscale showed that Mindfulness in Learning Strategies was .87, Mindfulness in Dealing with Emotional and Physical Frustration was .82, and Mindfulness against overstriving was .70. Correlation analysis with related variables showed that all the three factors showed positive correlations with trait mindfulness scales(CAMS-R, FFMQ, K-MAIA), dedication, vigour, absorption in academic enthusiasm scale, trait academic self-efficacy, state academic self-efficacy, regular and consistent practice, and perserverance and consistency in grit scale, confirming convergent and criterion validity. On the other hand, all the three factors showed negative correlations with Difficulty in emotional clarity and Difficulty in attention to feelings in Emotional Awreness Difficulty Scale, Emotional Exhaustion, Cynicism, Reduced Academic Efficacy in the academic burnout scale, trait academic procrastination, and state academic procrastination, confirming that this scale has discriminant validity. Conclusions The AMS thus appears to be a reliable and valid self-report measure with practical utility for diagnosing and providing intervention for cultivating learners’ academic mindfulness competency.

Higher inflammatory proteins predict future depressive symptom severity among adolescents with lower emotional clarity

BackgroundA growing body of work has implicated inflammation in the pathogenesis of depression. As not all individuals with heightened levels of peripheral inflammation develop symptoms of depression, additional work is needed to identify other factors that catalyze the relationship between inflammation and depressive symptoms. Given that elevated levels of inflammatory activity can induce a variety of emotional changes, the present study examined whether emotional clarity, the trait-like ability to identify, discern, and express one’s emotions, influences the strength of the association between inflammatory signaling and concurrent and prospective symptoms of depression. MethodsCommunity adolescents (N = 225, Mage = 16.63 years), drawn from a larger longitudinal project investigating sex and racial differences in depression onset, provided blood samples to determine peripheral levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) at a baseline visit, along with self-report measures of emotional clarity and depressive symptom severity. Depressive symptom severity was assessed again at a follow-up visit approximately 5-months after baseline. ResultsHierarchical multiple regressions detected a significant interaction between inflammatory markers and emotional clarity on future depression severity, controlling for baseline depressive symptoms. Specifically, among adolescents with low levels of emotional clarity, higher levels of IL-6, CRP, and inflammatory composite scores were significantly associated with greater future depression severity. ConclusionsThese results indicate that low emotional clarity and high inflammatory signaling may jointly confer risk for prospective depressive symptom severity among adolescents. Therapeutic interventions that improve emotional clarity may reduce risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents with low-grade peripheral inflammation.

Emotion dysregulation and obesity: A conceptual review of the literature.

Problematic eating behaviours are prevalent in individuals living with obesity and have been linked to weight gain over time. Furthermore, there is evidence that heightened negative emotionality is common in a subset of individuals living with obesity and that negative emotions often precede problematic eating behaviours. Consequently, several theories have highlighted emotion dysregulation as a potential explanatory mechanism of this relationship. However, to date, no comprehensive review has compiled the specific ways in which individuals living with obesity exhibit emotion dysregulation. The present review utilizes Gratz and Roemer's (2004) multidimensional conceptualization of emotion regulation and dysregulation as a framework to summarize the extant literature on emotion dysregulation in obesity. Specifically, this review examines research related to: (1) awareness and clarity of emotions; (2) acceptance of, and willingness to experience, emotion; (3) the ability to remain goal directed and inhibit impulsive behaviour when distressed; and (4) access to emotion regulation strategies. Overall, findings from the present review demonstrate that individuals living with obesity exhibit deficits in emotion clarity, and experience difficulty inhibiting impulsive behaviour and remaining goal directed when experiencing emotion. Strengths and limitations of the literature are reviewed, and future research directions and clinical implications are discussed in light of these findings.

Comparative Analysis of Psychological Well-Being and Emotional Education in Graduate Students.

The growing importance of emotional intelligence in academic and professional contexts has generated a need to explore its linkage with psychological well-being. Furthermore, understanding how various demographic and academic factors can influence students' emotional perception and management is crucial for optimizing educational and intervention strategies. In this context, the primary purpose of this study was to analyze the existing relationship between emotional education and psychological well-being in graduate students. The objective was to conduct a comparative analysis of perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) in different study programs offered at a specific university. The methodology, framed within a positivist paradigm, was based on a quantitative approach and examines the responses of 1,522 university students using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24). This tool, which is divided into three dimensions (emotional attention, emotional clarity, and emotional repair), was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and ANOVA tests to determine demographic and academic influences on the scores. The findings indicate deficiencies in the areas of Emotional Attention and Emotional Repair, contrasting with a marked prevalence in Emotional Clarity. Variables such as sex, age, and field of study demonstrated an influence on the dimensions of PEI. Notably, significant differences in emotional perception were found between sex and academic fields. Specifically, training directed towards empathy proved to be a prominent factor in the perception of emotional competencies. This study highlights the influence of demographic and academic variables on emotional competencies, underscoring the need to adapt strategies in education and therapy.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Social Work Students and Its Relation to Perceived Efficacy.

Social workers have a greater than average risk of suffering burnout syndrome. In the same way as the professionals, students too can suffer academic burnout. However, few empirical studies have studied burnout and protective factors in social work students exclusively. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been described as a protective factor for burnout both in the professional and the academic context. The present study aims to explore which components of EI predict the burnout domains in students studying a degree in social work, in Spain. To this end, 87 social work students completed a questionnaire in which information was gathered on EI, burnout, average grade in the degree, and sociodemographic variables. The regression analysis results indicate that the students with poorer academic success and from higher years reported greater symptoms of burnout. Regarding the components of EI, emotional clarity and emotional repair predict the academic efficacy perceived by the students. These results highlight the importance of including EI in academic policies to promote the design of EI training programs aimed at developing EI skills, particularly emotional clarity and emotional repair, as a way of improving the perception of efficacy in social work students.