EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND PERCEIVED STRESS: ANALYSIS IN ADULT DEPENDENT AND NON-DEPENDENT TO DRUGS

Abstract

Regarding the multifactorial etiology of alcohol and drug addiction, emotional intelligence may explain why there are adults with greater ability to regulate stressful situations. The objective was to know the relationship between emotional intelligence and perceived stress; as well as analyzing the differences of these variables. The sample was two groups of adults with a mean age of 24.83 (SD = 9.79) for drug-dependent adults and 36.20 (SD = 8.91) for non-drug-dependent adults. The Inventory of Emotional Intelligence ([EQ-I], Bar-On, 1997) and the Perceived Stress Scale ([CEP] Levenstein et al., 1993) were used. A negative and significant relationship was found between the emotional intelligence reported by dependent adults (rs = -.419, p <.05) and non-dependent adults (rs = -.379, p <.05) to drugs with perceived stress. Furthermore, significant differences were found for emotional intelligence (U = 290.0, p = .018) and for perceived stress (U = 274.0, p = .009) showing higher scores in the group with drug dependence. The findings will provide updated information for the design of future interventions focused on the search for strategies that promote the regulation of emotions and stress management for the care of people with drug dependence.

Keywords

• emotional intelligence
• stress
• addictions
• alcohol
• drugs