Self-reported emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: Testing incremental predictive validity hypotheses via structural equation modeling (SEM) in a small sample

In a previous investigation, Palmer, Donaldson, and Stough (2002) examined the incremental predictive validity of the subscales from the TMMS and TAS-20 in predicting life satisfaction. To this effect, Palmer et al. (2002) used multiple regression and reported that only the Clarity (beta = .20) subscale from the TMMS was uniquely related to SWLS. In this investigation, structural equation modeling was used for the purposes of modeling a general El factor as a potential incrementally predictive predictor of life satisfaction. The results demonstrated that a general El factor was associated with SWLS at beta = .61 and that this effect was only partially mediated by PA and NA, such that the validity coefficient was reduced to beta = .49. The results are discussed in light of the advantages of using structural equation modeling, even in cases where the sample size may not be considered particularly large (i.e., N = 100). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.