Does item overlap account for the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and psychopathology in preadolescents?

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) is associated with psychopathology when measured concurrently although recent research suggests that trait EI does not predict psychopathology longitudinally in preadolescents. This investigation explores whether item overlap may be responsible for these contrasting findings. A sample of 598 children aged 10–11 years completed the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire – Adolescent Short Form (TEIQue – ASF), the Beck Youth Inventories (BYI) to measure psychopathology, and the Ravens Coloured Progressive Matrices to screen for intellectual impairment. A joint exploratory factor analysis conducted on all items from the TEIQue – ASF and the BYI revealed that 16 items from the TEIQue – ASF overlapped BYI factors. After the removal of these items the relationships between the TEIQue – ASF and subscales of the BYI did not significantly differ from those using the original scale. In addition, the differences in the psychopathology scores of those high and low on trait EI persisted after the removal of the overlapping items from the TEIQue – ASF. Whilst further research into this issue is recommended the findings indicate that trait EI and psychopathology are not distinct constructs but that they are still related in preadolescents after controlling for item overlap.