Emotional intelligence and relationship quality among couples

To assess whether emotional intelligence (EI) is related to self-assessed relationship quality, an ability test of EI and measures of relationship quality were administered to 86 heterosexual couples in a university setting. Results indicated that female partners were significantly higher in EI than male partners and that EI scores were uncorrelated within couples. Two 2 2 multiple analyses of variance (performed separately for positive and negative outcomes) assessed how relationship quality measures differed across four different types of couples (high-EI female/high-EI male, low-EI female/low-EI male, etc.). As predicted, couples with both partners low on EI tended to have the lowest scores on depth, support, and positive relationship quality and the highest scores on conflict and negative relationship quality. Counter to our hypotheses, couples with both partners high on EI did not consistently have higher scores on positive outcomes and lower scores on negative outcomes than couples with one high-EI partner. What emotional abilities predict quality relationships among dating or married couples? Researchers have shown that positive emotions (Gottman, 1982; Gottman & Levenson, 1992), emotional stability (Kelly & Conley, 1987; Russell & Wells, 1994), self-esteem (Arrindell & Luteijn, 2000; Luteijn, 1994), and secure attachment style (Feeney, 1999) all correlate with partners’ reports of happiness. Several negative emotional traits such as impulsivity, fearfulness, and depression also reliably predict partner reports of maladjustment (O’leary & Smith, 1991). The purpose of this study is to assess whether emotional intelligence (EI)—as defined by Mayer and Salovey (1997)—is related to perceived positive and negative relationship qualities among couples. Although no study as yet has directly assessed whether EI abilities (i.e., the ability to perceive, use, understand, and regulate emotions) are related to these outcomes, recent research indicates that EI, measured with new ability tests, predicts both selfand informant reports of emotional support, conflict, and positive social relations (Brackett, Mayer, & Warner, 2004; Lopes et al., 2004; Lopes, Salovey, & Straus, 2003; Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 1999). Researchers also have speculated about potential links between EI and relationship quality among couples (Fitness, 2001; Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 1999). Noller, Beach, and Osgarby (1997), for example, reviewed research showing that accuracy in expressing and recognizing emotions correlates with couples’ reports of marital happiness. Carton, Kessler, and Pape (1999) also found that sensitivity and accuracy in nonverbal communication predicts happiness. One skill that is assessed by EI is the perception of emotion; thus, it is reasonable to predict that higher EI might predict greater relationship satisfaction in couples, whereas lower EI might result in relationship dissatisfaction and higher The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Erin Fisher who helped to gather many of the resources that helped the authors write this article. Correspondence should be addressed to Marc A. Brackett, Yale University, Department of Psychology, New Haven, CT 06511, e-mail: [email protected]. Personal Relationships, 12 (2005), 197–212. Printed in the United States of America. Copyright 2005 IARR. 1350-4126=05