Theoretical developments of emotional intelligence (EI) are jeopardized by the inability of empirical studies to keep pace with its intense surge to the forefront of both lay and academic communities. Due to the paucity of empirical evidence, claims of the contributions of EI are met with speculation in the scientific community. Furthermore, EI is conceptualized and measured in a variety and often, diverging ways.
Subsequent to indications from previous literature that EI shows promise to be linked to the field of health and psychological well-being (Austin, Saklofske, & Egan, 2005), the primary aim of this study was to investigate the concurrent criterion validity of a mixed model conceptualization of EI with self-reported exercise attitudes by comparing two subsamples of university students, (Mean Age = 22 years; 72% Female, 28% Male; NonKinesiology n1 = 271, Kinesiology n2 = 127).
The finding of a weak overall correlation fails to provide concurrent criterion validity to the BarOn (2002) conceptualization of EI with exercise attitudes as measured by HBQ (Austin, unpublished), r(398) = .13, p = .013. This finding is further substantiated by the lack of significant findings in an ANOVA and a lack of practical significance in a MANOVA. While the criterion group had significantly stronger beliefs of the benefits of exercise, F(1, 394) = 47.54, p < .001, Å2 = .11; no significant difference between the means of the Composite EI was found between the subsamples for the main effect (field of study) or for the interaction effect (field of study ~ sex): F(1, 394) = 0.08, p = .78; F(1, 394) = 1.82, p = .18, respectively. Additionally, the MANOVA findings determined that only 1.6% of the overall variance could be attributed to the model effect of self-reported activity level and exercise attitude with EI.
The secondary purpose of this study was to examine the sex differences in the relationship of EI and exercise attitudes. The scales for the female subsample were not significantly correlated, r(287) = .07, p = .25; whereas, a low and significant correlation was found in the male subsample, r(111) = .37, p = .001. The finding is noteworthy and appears to suggest that the contributing factor to the significant, but weak overall correlation, was obtained from the male sector.
Although, the study does find the BarOn EQ-i:S instrument to be a good measure with strong internal consistency reliability and large intercorrelations with its components, the findings point to concerns as to what is being measured and the degree to which the measure overlaps with the personality domain.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-05202005-145753 |
| Date | 30 May 2005 |
| Creators | Rohr, Betty Anne |
| Contributors | Schwean, Vicki L., Saklofske, Donald H., Ralph, Edwin, Noonan, Brian, Hellsten, Laurie |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-05202005-145753/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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