Avances en el estudio de la Inteligencia Emocional

Emotional Intelligence and Alexithymia: Structural Properties and Correlates of the TMMS-24
can account for the observed relationships between
the components of TMMS-24 emotional intelligence
and the subfactors of alexithymia. They were
identified by Attention, Clarity, and Repair and
possibly correspond with perceived ability at different
stages of emotion processing, as specified in
Mayer and Salovey’s hierarchical model.
It shall be noted that in previous research
(Coffey et al., 2003; Gohm & Clore, 2000; Velasco
et al., 2006), factor analytic analyses of the TMMS
long form and TAS-20 scales (sometimes also conducted
concurrently with a bunch of other EI
scales) have shown that TMMS and TAS-20 subscales
can be accounted for by two underlying factors.
One factor was shown to capture “Attention”
(explaining TMMS Attention and TAS Externally
Oriented Thinking [-]), the other factor was shown
to capture the “Perceived Ability” component (explaining
TMMS Clarity, TAS Difficulty Identifying
Feelings [-], and TAS Difficulty Describing Feelings
[-]). In the current analyses, we preferred the threefactorial
solution that was both, empirically indicated,
as well as in line with the theoretically predicted
number of factors and previous structural
analyses of the employed instruments.
General Discussion
The present study was conducted to investigate a
German adaptation of the 24-item short form of
the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS-24). The selfreport
questionnaire was originally developed as a
48-item instrument to assess perceived emotional
intelligence (EI) within the Mayer and Salovey
framework of emotional intelligence (Salovey &
Mayer, 1990; Salovey et al., 1995). It assesses three
important subcomponents or “branches” of perceived
EI, namely ‘Attention’, ‘Clarity’, and ‘Repair’.
A short form of the instrument was developed by
Fernández-Berrocal and colleagues (2004) that assesses
these three components with scales comprising
of 8 items each. In the present study, a German
adaptation of the modified version was investigated,
taking into consideration psychometric characteristics
as well as correlates.
The German TMMS-24 was shown to possess
highly satisfactory psychometric properties.
Scales of the instrument were characterized by good
internal consistencies and substantial stability over
a period of six months. The three component scales
were only moderately intercorrelated. Particularly,
Clarity correlated with both other scales, whereas
Attention and Repair were unrelated. This pattern
which was also found in previous studies (e.g., Fernández-Berrocal
et al., 2004) was interpreted to indicate
the central role of perceived Clarity in the
ability EI framework. Factor analyses revealed that
items belonging to Attention, Clarity, and Repair
had their dominant loading on their theoretically
assigned factors.
In a next step, we investigated the relationship
between TMMS-24 scales and the clinical
concept of alexithymia. As predicted, perceived EI
and alexithymia were found to be inversely correlated,
but only to a moderate degree. However, in
agreement with previous research (e.g., Coffey et al.,
2003; Davies et al., 1998; Gohm & Clore, 2000;
Velasco et al., 2006) clear relationships were found
between subscales of both constructs. Especially
Clarity was shown to posses the predicted negative
relationship with the Difficulties Describing Feelings
component of alexithymia. The pattern of correlations
between TMMS-24 subscales and alexithymia
subscales could be parsimoniously
accounted for by three underlying factors.
To conclude, the present adaptation of the
TMMS-24 can be considered satisfactory both in
terms of measurement characteristics as well as in
terms of construct validity.
The three components of perceived emotional
intelligence were only weakly related and
characterized by a differential pattern of correlations,
as evident in the joint analyses with alexithymia
components. This is in agreement with
previous findings (e.g., Fernández-Berrocal et
al., 2004; Salovey et al., 1995), and also some of
our own research, showing that Clarity and Repair
are related with adaptive coping and wellbeing,
whereas the opposite is true for Attention.
The differential pattern of correlations of the
three TMMS-24 sub-scales points to the importance
to distinguish between these components
and the necessity to conceptualize and assess EI
as a multiple components construct. Therefore
TMMS-24 component-scores can offer valuable
information beyond its total score. Additionally
to what has been said, the test-economy of the
TMMS-24 as a short form of an established instrument
may be appealing to researchers who
consider including a measure of perceived EI in
a larger research battery.
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