Validation of Emotional Intelligence Measure (MIE) for the Portuguese population

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of validating Emotional Intelligence Measurement (MIE) Scale for Portuguese senior citizens. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional quantitative study. FRAMEWORK: Senior citizens attending senior universities and from the community in the district of Viseu. PARTICIPANTS: 1084 subjects participated with a mean age of 72.98 years, residing in the district of Viseu, no longer involved in formal activities (retired) and participating voluntarily in study. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: the Emotional Intelligence Measuring (MIE) Scale, socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, residence). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the MIE scale were performed. RESULTS: The MIE showed very good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.952). The main component and rotation factor analysis varimax extracted 36 items and five factors which explain 54.78% of the total variance. After confirmatory factor analysis and re-specification of the model, the global indicator values of the adjustment model for the MIE revealed a quality of good fit (X(2)/df = 3.46; RMR = 0.025). The final version of the MIE was composed of 33 items and five factors that represent emotional intelligence skills: Factor 1 - Empathy (12 items); Factor 2 - Self-motivation (10 items); Factor 3 - Self-awareness (4 items); Factor 4 - Self-control (4 items); Factor 5 - Sociability (3 items). CONCLUSION: The MIE scale is shown to be suitable to assess emotional intelligence in Portuguese senior citizens.