ObjectiveThis article examines the role of socio-demographic variables, lifetime trauma and trait emotional intelligence (EI) as predictors of trauma-related symptom clusters (depression, anxiety, and somatization). Method202 adults receiving seeking psychological services at a community-based mental health clinic completed self-report questionnaires. ResultsSocio-demographic variables, lifetime trauma and trait EI significantly related to all outcomes, but trait EI had the largest impact. Trait EI was negatively related to the measures of psychological distress, with standardized coefficients ranging between −0.39 to −0.67. Combined, the three groups of variables explained between 28 and up to 50% of the variance in the outcomes. ConclusionsThese results suggest that trait EI is valuable in the prevention and treatment of depression, anxiety, and somatization symptom clusters among individuals exposed to trauma, in particular among individuals with low income and education.