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Emotional intelligence intervention in older adults to improve adaptation and reduce negative mood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2020

Iraida Delhom Open the ORCID record for Iraida Delhom [Opens in a new window] ,
Encarnación Satorres Open the ORCID record for Encarnación Satorres [Opens in a new window]  and
Juan C. Meléndez Open the ORCID record for Juan C. Meléndez [Opens in a new window]
Iraida Delhom*
Affiliation:
Universidad Internacional de Valencia (Spain), Pintor Sorolla, 21, Valencia, 46002, Spain
Encarnación Satorres
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia (Spain), Av. Blasco Ibañez 21, Valencia, ES 46010, Spain
Juan C. Meléndez
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia (Spain), Av. Blasco Ibañez 21, Valencia, ES 46010, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Iraida Delhom, Universidad Internacional de Valencia (Spain), Pintor Sorolla, 21, Valencia, 46002, Spain. Phone: +34 962825981. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objectives:

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a strong predictor of negative mood. Applying emotional skills correctly can help to increase positive emotional states and reduce negative ones. This study aims to implement EI intervention designed to improve clarity, repair EI dimensions and coping strategies, and reduce negative mood in older adults.

Design:

Participants were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group.

Setting:

Participants were evaluated individually before and after the intervention.

Participants:

Participants included 111 healthy older adults; 51 in the treatment group and 60 in the control group.

Intervention:

An EI program was implemented. The program was administered over 10 sessions lasting 90 min each.

Measurements:

EI dimension (attention, clarity, and repair), coping strategies, hopelessness, and mood were assessed.

Results:

Analysis of variance for repeated measures was applied. In the treatment group, scores on clarity and emotional repair increased and attention to emotions decreased; problem-focused coping (problem-solving, positive reappraisal, and seeking social support) showed significant increases, whereas emotion-focused coping (negative self-focused and overt emotional expression) obtained significant decreases; scores on negative mood measures declined significantly.

Conclusions:

An intervention based on EI is effective in older adults. After the EI intervention, the participants showed significant increases in their levels of clarity and emotional repair and intermediate levels of attention. In addition, the intervention was found to influence adaptation results, increasing the use of adaptive coping strategies and decreasing the use of maladaptive strategies, as well as reducing hopelessness and depressive symptoms.

Keywords

older adultspsychosocial interventionsdepressionquality of life
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 34 , Special Issue 1: Issue Theme: Varied Angles of Geriatric Depression , January 2022 , pp. 79 - 89
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2020

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