The Trait Emotional Intelligence As An Indicator For Mental Health Within Saudi Society: Assessment Study

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the credibility of the Petrides’ model for emotional intelligence as an indicator of mental health in Saudi Arabia. The study also aimed to determine the Convergent and Concurrent veracity of the scale structure considering the mental health index and listed mental disorders. The study sample comprised 170 students. The study Arabized the Trait Emotional Intelligence Scale by Petrides and Furnham (2001), the Inventory of Psychiatric Disorders by Asghari et al. (2008) and the Mental Health Index. It verified the validity and consistency of the tools. The scale has been highlighted as problematic in terms of the discriminant validity of the emotional intelligence scale. The findings determined that demographic variables, such as specialization, gender and age did not affect the trait model of emotional intelligence. The study also evaluated the internal validity of the model in reference to the mental health index and its external validity relative to the listed mental disorders.