Abstract This research investigated the relationships between trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self-efficacy) and age. Also, differences in trait emotional intelligence by gender were analyzed. The sample comprised 839 children and adolescents (53.3% boys and 46.7% girls), ranging between 11 and 16 years (M=13.52, SD=1.71). Participants were administered a measure of trait EI (TEIQue-ASF, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Adolescent Short Form). Correlations between the trait EI measure by TEIQue-ASF and age were significant and negative but low. With respect to gender, the study found significant differences between boys and girls in some facets of TEIQue-ASF. Objectives Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self-efficacy) is defined as a constellation of emotion-related self-perceptions located at the lower levels of personality hierarchies (Petrides, Pita, & Kokkinaki, 2007). The conceptualization of EI as a personality trait leads to a construct that lies wholly outside the taxonomy of human cognitive ability (Carroll, 1993). The trait EI framework aims to provide comprehensive coverage of personality facets relating to emotions. Nevertheless, one well-known research study has concentrated on adults and there is a dearth of data from children and adolescents (Mavroveli, Petrides, Rieffe, & Bakker, 2007). The present study sought to examine the relationships between trait EI and age in a sample of Spanish’s adolescents. Also the study will analyze difference by gender.

Participants The sample comprised 839 children and adolescents (53.3% boys and 46.7% girls), ranging in age between 11 and 16 years (M=13.52, SD=1.71). Instruments Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Adolescent Short Form (TEIQue-ASF; Petrides, Sangareau, Furnham, & Frederickson, 2006). The TEIQue-ASF is a simplified version, in terms of wording and syntactic complexity, of the adult short form of the TEIQue. The -ASF version comprises 30 short statements, rated on a 7-point scale and designed to measure global trait EI, and items aimed at assessing emotional well-being, emotional self-control, emotiveness and sociability. Example items include “I can control my anger when I want to,” “I feel good about myself,” and “I’m good at getting along with my classmates”. The Spanish adaptation of the TEIQue-ASF was conducted by Ferrando & Serna (2007). Procedure Pupils completed the self-concept questionnaire, TEIQue-ASF. Testing took place under supervision during one-hour sessions in class.

The internal consistency on the global scale was satisfactory (alpha=.82). The results showed significant correlations, negative and low, between age and the different facets of trait EI measured by TEIQue-ASF. The size effect of those relationships was very low. The results are agreed with Ferrando (2006) and Karma & Maliha (2005). Regarding gender differences in trait EI a marginal statistically significantfavoring males was found (t (822) = 1.916; Mm = 148.01, SDm = 20.28; Mf = 145.32, SDf = 19.89; p=.055). For the different facets of EI assessed the results showed statistically significant male-favoring difference on self-control, well-being and statistically significant female-favoring difference on sociability. However no significant differences were found for the emotiveness facet. These results do not coincide with those of Mavroveli, Petrides, Rieffe & Bakker (2007) who found not differences by gender in adolescents.