Do emotionally intelligent adolescents flourish or flounder under pressure? Linking emotional intelligence to stress regulation mechanisms

Everyday stressors are a normal part of adolescence, yet young people differ markedly in their responses. Emotional intelligence (EI), set emotion-related adaptive traits and skills, is thought to be an important individual difference that acts as ‘stress buffer’ safeguard adolescent well-being. EI correlates with reduced perceived life stress levels, but, date, there no attempt understand how might underpin people's responses acute, situational stress. This paper explores EI, measured both ability (AEI) trait (TEI), regulates induced acute stress, using novel, potent social stressor. Across two studies, we tested the extent which moderated attention allocation emotion (eye movements), psychological reactivity (mood), physiological (heart rate) older adolescents (study 1 n = 58; study 2 60; age 16–18 years). Findings suggest higher TEI (but not AEI) can ‘dampen’ response 1), facilitating protection against allostatic overload. However, being better at perceiving TEI) predicted towards happy stimuli when stressed 2). Preliminary findings that, while AEI contribute differentially regulation mechanisms, may necessarily for facing stressors. • (EI) act buffer adolescence. Adolescents were exposed Sing-a-Song Stress Test. attentional measured. Under but attention. divergent roles EI.