Emotional Intelligence and Addictions: A Systematic Review

Since the millennium, an expanding number of research articles have examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and physical and mental health. The relationship between EI and addictive disorders has, however, remained relatively well-hidden. We therefore systematically reviewed and critically evaluated the literature on this relationship. We identified 51 articles on the topic of which 36 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Results indicate that a lower level of EI is associated with more intensive smoking, alcohol use, and illicit drug use and two components of EI play a key role in addictions: “decoding and differentiation of emotions” and “regulation of emotions.”     

The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Nicotine Dependence in Lebanese Adults

Emotional intelligence (EI) is known to be a risk factor for several types of addiction. The purpose of this study was to investigate, in a cross-sectional design, the presence of a relationship between the level of EI and nicotine dependence in a sample of Lebanese adults. A self-administered questionnaire was used to determine the sociodemographic characteristics, the level of nicotine dependence, and the level of EI in a sample of 142 Lebanese participants from the community. The sample was 51.4% women, with a mean age of 33.9 years. There was no difference in EI level between smokers and non-smokers (p = 0.66), and there were no associations between EI level and the level of nicotine dependence (p = 0.59). However, EI was positively correlated with age (p = 0.023). Due to the fact that smokers have been dependent on nicotine for many years and that EI is known to increase with age, findings suggest that low EI may be a risk factor for initiation, rather than maintenance, of nicotine dependence.     

Emotional Intelligence,Hardiness, and Smoking: Protective Factors Among Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Smoking is the biggest threat to public health, and it remains a serious cause of death in the world. It even causes acute and chronic diseases in passive smokers. Remarkably, the age of the onset of cigarette smoking is decreasing. Therefore, it is essential to increase our knowledge concerning the attitudes among adolescents toward cigarette smoking. The present study sought to examine the association among hardiness, emotional intelligence, and attitude toward cigarette smoking in adolescents. The participants comprised of 550 high school students (ages 16 to 19 years, M = 17.1, SD = .93) from Tehran. They completed the Personal Views Survey, Assessing Emotions Scale, and Attitudes Towards Smoking Scale. The structural equation modeling estimated that adolescents with a high ability for hardiness and emotional intelligence were more likely to report negative attitude toward cigarette smoking. The findings showed that hardiness and emotional intelligence were protective factors against smoking in adolescents. Therefore, these findings reinforce the importance of hardiness training and emotional intelligence training in preventing cigarette smoking in adolescents.     

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Emotional Intelligence of Student Pharmacist Leaders

Objective. To assess changes in Emotional Intelligence Appraisal (EIA) scores following the COVID-19 pandemic for pharmacy students within a voluntary cocurricular leadership development program.Methods. Participants from the class of 2021 (pandemic group) completed an EIA self-assessment near the beginning of the leadership program in August 2019 (pre-pandemic) and at the end of the program in July 2020 (during peak first-wave COVID-19 activity) and wrote an accompanying self-reflection. To determine changes in students’ emotional intelligence potentially attributable to COVID-19, differences in EIA scores from the pandemic group were compared to the pooled results of previous program cohorts (classes of 2017-2019). Prevalent themes in student self-reflections were also highlighted.Results. Thirty-five student leaders comprised the pandemic group, with 166 students included within the control group. The proportion of students with final EIA scores indicating high emotional intelligence was greater within the pandemic group (74.3% vs 50.6%). While both groups had increased final EIA scores compared to baseline values, score increases were significantly higher among students in the pandemic group with respect to overall emotional intelligence and relationship management. Students commented that the pandemic highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence during stressful situations, although the lack of in-person interaction was noted as a limitation for social development.Conclusion. Pharmacy students participating in a leadership development program during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced greater increases in emotional intelligence than did the program’s pre-pandemic cohorts. This may support the ability of health professional students to maintain resiliency through the pandemic and develop both personal and interpersonal relationship-building skills.     

Enhancing the Emotional Intelligence of Student Leaders Within an Accelerated Pharmacy Program

Objective. To determine student pharmacists’ perceptions of a leadership development program for student organization officers and report the changes in their Emotional Intelligence Appraisal (EIA) scores.Methods. Between 2015-2018, three different cohorts of Doctor of Pharmacy students participated in a voluntary leadership development program that spanned six academic quarters. The program included a variety of self-assessments and large-group topic discussions, followed by quarterly individual written reflections with feedback from faculty mentors. These activities primarily addressed the topics of emotional intelligence, strengths-based leadership, and continuous leadership development. Participants’ EIA scores near the beginning and end of the program were compared. An anonymous online survey of participant perceptions was administered at the end of the program.Results. One hundred sixty-six student pharmacists completed all program activities. Each cohort’s final mean overall, self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness EIA scores were higher than their corresponding mean initial scores. The overall response rate for the online survey was 61%. All respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that participating in the program enhanced their leadership skills. The majority of respondents additionally rated each of the program’s activities as being either beneficial or very beneficial. The emotional intelligence assessment and strengths-based leadership assessment were the activities that were most frequently cited as being very beneficial.Conclusion. The pilot implementation of this leadership development program appears to have been both impactful and well received. Programs structured like this one may provide an effective way of increasing the emotional intelligence of student pharmacists, particularly within accelerated pharmacy programs.     

Childhood Maltreatment,Emotional Lability,and Alcohol Problems in Young Adults At-Risk for ADHD: Testing Moderation and Moderated Moderation

Childhood maltreatment and alcohol problems are common among young adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the degree to which maltreatment and alcohol problems are associated; potential pertinent mediating or moderating mechanisms, such as emotional lability; and whether this association varies by sex. We examined, in a sample of adults at risk for ADHD (N = 122, 37% male), the association between childhood maltreatment and alcohol problems, whether emotional lability mediated or moderated this association, and whether either role of emotional lability differed between men and women. Emotional lability moderated the association between emotional neglect and alcohol problems; maltreatment increased risk for alcohol problems for those scoring high tovery high on emotional lability, but not for those with very low-moderate levels. The association between emotional abuse and alcohol problems depended both on emotional lability and sex; emotional abuse decreased the risk for alcohol problems among men very low/low on emotional lability, but not for men who were moderate to very high on emotional lability, or for women. These findings have implications for the way in which targeting maltreatment and emotional lability may be incorporated into prevention and intervention programs to prevent alcohol problems among men and women at risk for ADHD.     

Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Antero-Medial Prefrontal Cortex Sub-Regions in Major Depression and Relationship to Emotional Intelligence

Background:

Major depressive disorder has been associated with abnormal resting-state functional connectivity (FC), especially in cognitive processing and emotional regulation networks. Although studies have found abnormal FC in regions of the default mode network (DMN), no study has investigated the FC of specific regions within the anterior DMN based on cytoarchitectonic subdivisions of the antero-medial pre-frontal cortex (PFC). Studies from different areas in the field have shown regions within the anterior DMN to be involved in emotional intelligence. Although abnormalities in this region have been observed in depression, the relationship between the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) function and emotional intelligence has yet to be investigated in depressed individuals.

Methods:

Twenty-one medication-free, non–treatment resistant, depressed patients and 21 healthy controls underwent a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging session. The participants also completed an ability-based measure of emotional intelligence: the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. FC maps of Brodmann areas (BA) 25, 10m, 10r, and 10p were created and compared between the two groups.

Results:

Mixed-effects analyses showed that the more anterior seeds encompassed larger areas of the DMN. Compared to healthy controls, depressed patients had significantly lower connectivity between BA10p and the right insula and between BA25 and the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex. Exploratory analyses showed an association between vmPFC connectivity and emotional intelligence.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that individuals with depression have reduced FC between antero-medial PFC regions and regions involved in emotional regulation compared to control subjects. Moreover, vmPFC functional connectivity appears linked to emotional intelligence.     

Xylene and Alcohol Involvement of the Human Equilibrium System

Abstract: Ten healthy male subjects were exposed at weekly intervals to m-xylene concentrations of 6 μmol/1 (145 p.p.m.) and 11.5 μmol/1 (290 p.p.m.) for 4 hrs alone and in combination with the prior ingestion of single doses of alcohol (0.8 g/kg). Alcohol alone was ingested at two dose levels, 0.4 and 0.8 g/kg. Body sway was recorded with a strain gauge transducer platform with the subjects' eyes closed and open, and the eyes closed/open ratio, indicating the grade of visual compensation for body balance, was calculated. The variation observed in the eyes closed/open ratio in different experimental situations was due to changes with the eyes closed rather than to differences with the eyes open. Alcohol or a xylene concentration of 6 μmol/1, as well as their combination, had little if any effect on this ratio. Exposure to a xylene concentration of 11.5 μmol/1 tended to decrease the eyes closed/open ratio, possibly due to functional tolerance or adaptation. Interestingly, alcohol with a xylene concentration of 11.5 μmol/1 significantly increased the ratio, a finding suggesting an unexpected combined effect of xylene and alcohol, possibly of metabolic origin, on the human equilibrium system. The possible mechanism of this action remains to be elucidated.     

Neurotic Personality Traits and Risk for Adverse Alcohol Outcomes: Chained Mediation through Emotional Disorder Symptoms and Drinking to Cope

Background: Rates of alcohol abuse are high on Canadian postsecondary campuses. Individual trait differences have been linked to indices of alcohol use/misuse, including neurotic traits like anxiety sensitivity (AS) and hopelessness (HOP). We know little, though, about how these traits confer vulnerability. AS and HOP are related to anxiety and depression, respectively, and to drinking to cope with symptoms of those disorders. Neurotic personality may therefore increase risk of alcohol use/abuse via (1) emotional disorder symptoms and/or (2) coping drinking motives. Objectives: Allan and colleagues (2014) found chained mediation through AS-generalized anxiety-coping motives-alcohol problems and AS-depression-coping motives-alcohol problems. We sought to expand their research by investigating how emotional disorder symptoms (anxiety, depression) and specific coping motives (drinking to cope with anxiety, depression) may sequentially mediate the AS/HOP-to-hazardous alcohol use/drinking harms relationships among university students. Methods: This study used cross-sectional data collected in Fall 2014 as part of the Movember-funded Caring Campus Project (N = 1,883). The survey included the SURPS, adapted DMQ-R SF, and AUDIT-3. Results: AS and HOP were both related to hazardous alcohol and drinking harms via emotional disorder symptoms and, in turn, coping drinking motives. All indirect pathways incorporating both mediators were statistically significant, and additional evidence of partial specificity was found. Conclusions/Importance: The study's results have important implications for personality-matched interventions for addictive disorders.     

The Impact of Perceived Reinforcement From Alcohol and Involvement in Leisure Activities on Adolescent Alcohol Use

The purpose of the present study was to examine adolescent alcohol use within the context of youth involvement and reinforcement from alternative leisure activities and also to determine whether perceived reinforcement from alcohol (outcome expectancy liking [OEL]) impacts this relationship. Participants were 956 students in grades 7 through 9 who participated in the Project on Adolescent Trajectories and Health (PATH), a 3-year longitudinal study of adolescent risk behaviors and health outcomes. A path model included Time 1 and Time 3 youth self-reported alcohol use, Time 2 youth ratings of reinforcement potential from alternative activities and OEL scores, and Time 3 perceived access to alcohol. The final model provided a good fit for the data and revealed several significant paths. In particular, alcohol use was positively associated with reinforcement potential from party attendance and involvement in social activities, and negatively associated with reinforcement potential from religious involvement and involvement in home/family activities. In addition, OEL was a partial mediator for party attendance and religious activities. These findings highlight the need for prevention programs that focus on reducing adolescent alcohol use through increasing access to substitutable leisure activities that can compete with behaviors maintained by alcohol's positive reinforcement value for youth.     

A Preliminary Investigation of Caffeinated Alcohol Use During Spring Break

Background: Caffeinated alcoholic beverages (e.g., Red Bull and vodka) are popular but associated with negative consequences. CABs may be particularly popular during Spring Break, a potentially risky social event. Objectives: We aimed to identify the prevalence of Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use, determine how caffeinated alcohol use Spring Break drinking habits differ from usual, and examine the association between Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Methods: Data were collected from 95 college students during March of 2013 and 2014. Students completed questionnaires of their alcohol and caffeinated alcohol use before and during Spring Break and Spring Break alcohol-related problems. Results: Approximately 54% of students used caffeinated alcohol during Spring Break. Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use was associated with more alcohol-related problems, even after controlling for other alcohol consumed and Spring Break vacation status. Conclusions/Importance: Caffeinated alcoholic beverages are commonly consumed during Spring Break and their use uniquely predicted harms. Prevention efforts placed on caffeinated alcoholic beverage users may be helpful in reducing Spring Break-related harms.     

Peer Victimization and Alcohol Involvement among Adolescents Self-Selecting into a School-Based Alcohol Intervention

To increase understanding of factors that prompt adolescents to seek alcohol-related services, this research examined the characteristics of youths who self-selected into a secondary alcohol intervention. Using a cross-sectional study of high school students (N = 6,748), the authors explored participants' alcohol involvement, alcohol-related problems, and bullying/peer victimization. Compared to students that did not self-select, intervention students were more likely to have more hazardous drinking experience, to drink alone, experience alcohol-related problems, report more bullying/peer victimization, be male, and be in the tenth grade. Findings provide support that this developmentally tailored approach to early intervention successfully attracted youths with an array of risk factors.     

Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents With Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Adolescents with psychiatric disorders appear to be at increased risk for acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; however, little is known about the prevalence of behavioral risk factors in this population. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors among adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Electronic database searches identified studies sampling adolescents diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and assessing both alcohol and sexual risk behaviors. Fourteen studies sampling 3,029 adolescents with psychiatric disorders were included. The majority of adolescents with psychiatric disorders report alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors. Risk reduction interventions targeting these two behaviors are needed.     

Including Emotional Intelligence in Pharmacy Curricula to Help Achieve CAPE Outcomes

The importance of emotional intelligence (EI) for effective teamwork and leadership within the workplace is increasingly apparent. As suggested by the 2013 CAPE Outcomes, we recommend that colleges and schools of pharmacy consider EI-related competencies to build self-awareness and professionalism among students. In this Statement, we provide two examples of the introduction of EI into pharmacy curricula. In addition, we provide a 4-phase process based on recommendations developed by EI experts for structuring and planning EI development. Finally, we make 9 recommendations’ to inform the process of including EI in pharmacy curricula.     

Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Group Training on Anger in Adolescents With Substance-Abusing Fathers

Parental substance abuse is associated with impaired skills and ability to take care of children. Children of substance-abusing parents display higher levels of emotional difficulties. This article shows the effectiveness of emotional intelligence group training on anger in adolescents with substance-abusing fathers. The sample consisted of 60 high school boys with substance-abusing fathers, selected from referrals to public academic counseling centers in the city of Bojnurd in northeastern Iran. Next, the individuals were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received eight weekly one-and-a-half-hour emotional intelligence group training sessions in a school setting. The two groups were compared before and after the intervention using the Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. In the experimental group, mean score of state anger decreased from 29.8 ± 4.2 to 15.6 ± 0.8 in pretest to posttest. Results of RMANOVA showed that training was effective in all four areas of Trait Anger, State Anger, Anger Control-In, and Anger Control-Out (p < 0.05). This study indicated that training of emotional intelligence skills was effective in reducing anger in adolescents with substance-abusing fathers.     

Analyzing and Comparing the Association Between Control Policy Measures and Alcohol Consumption in Europe

This paper focuses on the association between alcohol consumption and the introduction of control policy measures, within the AMPHORA 12 country European project. We estimated the “net” associations between intervention policies and total alcohol consumption, taking into account contextual socioeconomic factors and including all policies in the same regression model. The associations were estimated for each country, and the country-specific results were compared in a random-effects meta-analysis. The association between policy measures and total alcohol consumption was very heterogeneous among countries. Policies on restricting alcohol availability and on enhancing the minimum age for alcohol purchase appeared to be related to decreasing alcohol consumption. The evidence regarding the effect of the others kinds of interventions was more contradictory.     

The Effectiveness of Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts: A Meta-Analytic Review of Literature

Reviewed are 31 studies that evaluated recidivism rates from juvenile drug treatment courts relative to a random-assignment or convenience comparison group. Recidivism was defined as re-referral, new charges, or re-arrest. Mean effect sizes and confidence intervals are provided for the three recidivism assessment time frames most often used by researchers (e.g., recidivism occurring “during the drug court program”; “during, plus post-program”; and “post-program only”). Characteristics of youths and programs that were hypothesized to correlate with the size of effect (e.g., gender and ethnic proportions of program participants, methodological quality of studies) were examined in an attempt to account for variation in effect sizes across studies. The average premature termination rate from drug court programs, as a face-valid indicator of typical program effectiveness, is also reported. The results, based on significantly more studies than past reviews, show that juvenile drug court treatment program youths, relative to controls, had slightly more gains than short-term, pre-to-post-program assessments. Results are compared to adult drug court outcomes, and program and participant correlates of effect size are discussed. Suggestions for further research into possible improvements of programs are offered.     

Pregaming: A Field-Based Investigation of Alcohol Quantities Consumed Prior to Visiting a Bar and Restaurant District

Background: Investigations examining the association between pregaming, or the consumption of alcohol prior to attending a social gathering or drinking establishment, and blood alcohol concentrations have primarily relied on estimations (i.e., Widmark equation), rather than objective biologic samples, such as breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). Objectives: The current study assessed: (1) pregaming, using quantity-based measures, among a sample of college and non-college affiliated bar patrons, (2) associations between pregaming intensity/status and participant intoxication (BrAC), and (3) whether participants who pregamed were more likely to identify as a hazardous drinker. Methods: 548?bar patrons provided data on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and a single pregaming item assessing quantity of alcohol consumed prior to visiting a bar/restaurant district in 2015. BrAC samples were collected post interview. We used hierarchical linear regression models, respectively, to assess whether pregaming significantly impacted BrAC and whether presence of hazardous drinking predicted pregaming behavior. Results: After controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, age, student status, and Greek affiliation, the linear regression model explained 32.3% (R²?=?.323) of the variance of BrAC levels (F(12)?=?21.162, p?<?.001), with 4.30% of the variance explained solely by pregaming (β?=?0.014; p?<?.001). The linear regression model to assess if harzardous drinking behavior (AUDIT-C) significantly predicted pregaming explained 31.2% (R²?=?.312) of the variance of pregaming behavior (F(18)?=?13.276, p?<?.001), with 4.2% of the variance explained solely by AUDIT-C scores (β?=?0.280; p?<?.001). Conclusion: Findings further highlight pregaming as a harmful risk behavior linked to elevated levels of hazardous drinking and intoxication.     

The Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale: some findings with young offenders

The Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS) has been questioned regarding its reliability, the amount of common variance among items and its clinical usefulness. Previous studies are reviewed and data for 197 South Australian young offenders in custody are presented. The AAIS was found to be a reliable and internally consistent measure of adolescent alcohol use and misuse. A strong general alcohol involvement component on which all items had positive loadings was found. The need for objective measures in work with at-risk populations was highlighted. The AAIS meets this need through a brief yet broad sampling of clinically-relevant behaviours.