The Link Between Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and Childhood Adversity in Adulthood A ...

81 Pages·2016·1.21 MB·English

The Link Between Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and Childhood
Adversity in Adulthood

A Thesis
Presented
to the Faculty of
California State University, Chico

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Science
in
Psychology

by
© Julie Skye Raskin-Li
Fall 2016
THE LINK BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, RESILIENCE,
AND CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY IN ADULTHOOD
A Thesis
by
©Julie Skye Raskin-Li
Fall 2016

APPROVED BY THE INTERIM DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES:
______________________________
Sharon Barrios, Ph.D.

APPROVED BY THE GRADUATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

______________________________ ______________________________
Dave Hibbard, Ph.D. Eddie Vela, Ph.D, Chair
Graduate Coordinator

______________________________
Pete Lopez, Ph.D
PUBLICATION RIGHTS

No portion of this thesis may be reprinted or reproduced in any manner
unacceptable to the usual copyright restrictions without the written permission of the
author.

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DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to all my fellow human beings, who have faced traumatic
events and have found the ability to “bounce back.” May you all find peace, love, and
happiness within yourselves, so as to succeed at life. I would also like to dedicate this piece
of academic achievement to my parents, Drs. Robert Raskin and Jill Novacek. I am grateful
for the role models of excellence you have provided me throughout my lifetime, without
your support and positive academic achievement I would not have such a high bar to reach.
❤

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to Dr. Terrry Miller-Herringer, Dr.
Eddie Vella, Dr. Lawrence Herringer, and my friend and colleague Brandon Fry for their
support and guidance throughout this project. I would like acknowledge Dr. Peter Lopez,
for helping me be a better therapist and person, much of who I have become is because of
his honest feedback and dedication to his students’ wellbeing. I would like to thank Dr.
Elise Cole for her insight and direction in getting this project started. Thank you to my
wonderful family, it is because of your unconditional love and support that I am able to
be the person I choose to be today. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my supervisors,
Brian Martin and Julie Bartel, of New Beginnings Educational Program for giving me the
opportunity to create systemic change in families with violence, this project would not be
as successful without the knowledge I have received through working for you both.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Publication Rights ....................................................................................................... iii

Dedication ................................................................................................................... iv

Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................... v

Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ vi

List of Tables .............................................................................................................. viii

Abstract ....................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER

I. Introduction ............................................................................................... 1

Statement of the Problem .............................................................. 1
Purpose of the Study ..................................................................... 3

II. Literature Review ...................................................................................... 4

Childhood Maltreatment ............................................................... 4
Biology of Trauma ........................................................................ 9
The Limbic System…………………………………………. 12
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis……………… ............. 15
Pre-frontal & Neocortex……………………………………. 16
Emotional Intelligence .................................................................. 18
Ability Emotional Intelligence……………………………. ... 21
Trait Emotional Intelligence………………………………. .. 23
Mixed Model Emotional Intelligence……………………… . 25
Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health ............................. 27
Resilience………………………………………………………. . 30
Trait Resilience…………………………………………… ... 31
Processes or Systems Resilience………………………… ..... 31
Resilience and Adverse Childhood Experiences……………......... 32
Summary and Study Rationale………………………………. ....... 35

III. Methodology ............................................................................................. 37

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Participants .................................................................................... 37
Measures ....................................................................................... 37
Adverse Childhood Experience Study……………………… 37
The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form. 39
The Resilience Scale……………………………………....... 41
Procedures ..................................................................................... 41

IV. Findings and Results ................................................................................. 43

Preliminary Analysis ............................................................. 43
Main Analysis……………………………………………… 43

V. Conclusions and Recommendations ......................................................... 45

Emotional Intelligence and Resilience .......................................... 45
Limitations .................................................................................... 47
Clinical Implications ..................................................................... 48
References ..................................................................................................................... 51

Appendices

A. Informed Consent Form ............................................................................ 62

B. Institutional Review Board Approval ....................................................... 65

C. Demographics ........................................................................................... 66

D. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire ................................ 68

E. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form ................... 69

F. The Resilience Scale ................................................................................. 70

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LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
1. The Sampling Domain of Trait Emotional Intelligence
In Adults and Adolescent ....................................................................... 39

viii
ABSTRACT

THE LINK BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, RESILIANCE, AND
CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY IN ADULTHOOD
By
© Julie Skye Raskin-Li 2016
Master of Science in Psychology
California State University, Chico
Fall 2016

Childhood maltreatment, from the ages of zero to 18, is a pervasive adverse
experience that continues to affect the lives of many adults. The Department of Health
and Human Services reported in 2014, that there were 702,000 cases of child abuse and
neglect. According to Fang, Brown, Florence, and Mercy (2010) the aggregate lifetime
cost of child maltreatment is estimated at $585 billion per year. These costs are attributed
to life time mental health related issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
behavioral problems like criminality and violent behavior, as well as increased risk of
chronic physical illness due to chronic stress. Child maltreatment has also been linked to
decreased levels of job readiness and long term negative physical disabilities (Fang et al.,
2010). Child maltreatment has a multitude of negative residual effects related to mental
and physical health outcomes through the lifespan. Examining the relationships between
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emotional intelligence (EI) and resiliency may allow clinicians to develop treatment
options that could lead to a decrease in transgenerational patterns of violence. The
connection between neurobiology, childhood maltreatment, and emotional resilience
were explored as a way to understand the outcomes for mental and physical health
problems as a result of child maltreatment. One hundred and twenty-five participants
were assessed for levels of emotional intelligence and resiliency using the The Trait
Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form (Petrides, 2009) and The Resilience
Scale (Wagnild, 2014), respectively. Participants were also assessed for the presence of
adverse childhood experiences using the Adverse Childhood Experience Survey (Felitti
& Anda, 1997). Results revealed a significant correlation, r(125) = .534, p < .001, which
demonstrates that when an individual is higher in EI they are more resilient to adverse
childhood experiences in adulthood. The finding that EI and resilience are related may
help clinicians better deal with the deleterious consequences of childhood trauma.

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