The relationship between emotional intelligence and trait mindfulness: A meta-analytic review

According to theory, emotional intelligence (EI) and trait mindfulness should be positively associated with each other; nevertheless, the reported effect sizes of this relationship were mixed across studies. This meta-analysis was done to clarify this line of research. The analysis found that (1) EI had a statistically significant association with trait mindfulness (overall EI: ρ¯̂ = 0.48; self-report EI: ρ¯̂ = 0.48; mixed EI: ρ¯̂ = 0.49); (2) gender did not moderate the relationship between EI and trait mindfulness; (3) age was a statistically significant moderator of the relationship between EI and trait mindfulness (the association was stronger for older subjects); and (4) the type of scale used was a statistically significant moderator of the relationship between EI and trait mindfulness (FFMQ: ρ¯̂ = 0.72; FMI: ρ¯̂ = 0.79; MAAS: ρ¯̂ = 0.38; other scales: ρ¯̂ = 0.60).