The relationship between level of emotional intelligence, emotional awareness, and symptoms of psychological stress among homeless parents

This study examined the relationship between symptoms of psychological stress and levels of emotional intelligence and awareness among parents living in a homeless shelter. The literature indicates that homeless parents are exposed to a large number of stressors and traumata, but that their level of emotional intelligence and awareness may affect the degree to which they are affected by those stressors. This study is designed to explore the extent to which their emotional intelligence and level of emotional awareness is associated with their ability to exist in a traumatic environment with lower likelihood of psychological symptomatology, pathological dissociation, and demoralization. Although the study does not directly measure the relationship between emotional intelligence/emotional awareness and interpersonal coping methods, psychological symptoms, dissociation, and demoralization are symptoms of poorer psychological coping. Emotional intelligence was assessed using the Mayer/Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and Emotional Awareness was assessed using the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS). Levels of psychological stress were assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and the Psychiatric Epidemiology and Research Interview for Demoralization (PERI-D). A negative relationship was hypothesized to exist between the measures of emotional intelligence and awareness and the measures of psychological stress. The results of this study indicate partial support for its' hypotheses. As predicted, participants in the study are contending with a greater degree of symptomatology, dissociation, and demoralization than the general population. Additionally, their affect regulatory capacity as measured by the MSCEIT and the LEAS is limited compared to the general population. A significant negative relationship between psychological stress and affect regulatory capacity was not found. However, this pattern was evident for participants who engaged in pathological forms of dissociation. The statistical power of this study was limited by the small sample size (n=42), which may have obscured small but significant correlations that were consistent with the studies' hypotheses. Therefore, future research with larger samples is needed to ascertain more precisely the nature of the relationships that may exist between these variables. Future research is needed to develop sound typologies of homeless families in order to better direct policy and intervention with this population. Additionally, longitudinal research that can ascertain the extent to which affect regulatory capacity predicts good outcomes for this population is necessary in order to further the efficacy of clinical work with these families. Finally, evaluations of programmatic interventions designed to increase emotional knowledge and general affect regulatory capacity are needed.