Individual and group emotional intelligence measurement of sex differences and invariance for individual (WLEIS-S) and group (WEIP-S) emotional intelligence measurement scales

Abstract

Different international research groups focus on the study of socio-emotional resources and tools to facilitate adequate management of daily challenges and demands among teachers. This allows for better personal and professional performance. One of these resources that has attracted most attention in recent decades has been that of emotional intelligence. In this regard, the present study set out to analyse the psychometric properties of trait emotional intelligence as a construct. For this purpose, the study focused on two EI measurement instruments. One of the instruments (WLEIS-S) measures individual emotional intelligence and the other instrument (WEIP-S) measures group emotional intelligence. Against this background, the possible invariance of both scales with respect to the sex variable is analysed, as well as possible differences in the variables measured by the scales between sexes. To this end, 452 primary education teachers from Southern Spain filled in the WLEIS-S and WEIP-S tests. The results found in the factor analyses carried out with both instruments showed an excellent fit, as well as good internal consistency. Moreover, both instruments showed robust invariance, which indicates that both scales measure the emotional intelligence construct consistently for both women and men. No differences were found in the assessed latent variables between sexes. To conclude, this study shows psychometric evidence supporting the suitability of the WLEIS-S and WEIP-S scales for the accurate assessment of individual and group emotional intelligence in women and men in the teacher population.