Beyond fluid intelligence and personality traits in scholastic success: Trait emotional intelligence

• Relationship of Bar-On trait EI with scholastic success
• Relationship of TEIQue trait EI with scholastic success
• TEIQue trait EI as a more comprehensive model in relation to scholastic success

This study investigated relationships between fluid intelligence, personality traits, and two different models of trait emotional intelligence (EI) and scholastic success. The Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM), the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ), the Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Inventory (Bar-On EQ-i), and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) were administered to 133 Italian high school students. The results showed that trait EI according to the Petrides and Furnham model accounted for greater incremental variance in scholastic success than trait EI according to the Bar-On model beyond that attributable to fluid intelligence and personality traits. These results highlighted the relationship between trait EI, in particular trait EI according to the Petrides and Furnham model, and scholastic success, hence offering new research and intervention opportunities.