Application of the emotional intelligence construct to college student binge drinking

Application of the Emotional Intelligence Construct to College Student Binge Drinking Jeffrey P. Dulko Although extensive research has been conducted in the area of college binge drinking, relatively little has been done to study differences among alcoholrelated consequences. Some initial studies have shown that binge drinking and its consequences are associated with several emotional and interpersonal factors, but there has been no comprehensive examination of these relationships. The theory of emotional intelligence (EI) has been developed recently to study emotional and interpersonal factors as an integrated construct. Research of the relationship between alcohol and EI could provide a valuable base for which to design alcohol prevention programs that target improving emotional and interpersonal deficits as a means to reduce consequences. The present study used three surveys to assess binge drinking and to examine how EI and its factors can predict binge drinking consequences. The Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC), the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ-i), and a Research Questionnaire were administered to 309 undergraduate college students. The results revealed that there is no significant difference between binge drinkers and non-binge drinkers on a measure of general EI. However, the number of binge drinking consequences is inversely correlated with general EI. All five types of binge drinking consequences (physical, intrapersonal, interpersonal, impulse control, and social responsibility) were predicted by EI factors (intrapersonal, stress management, and interpersonal). As intrapersonal EI rose, physical consequences from binge drinking decreased. Higher stress management EI scores were indicative of lower intrapersonal binge drinking consequences, and higher interpersonal EI scores predicted lower social responsibility consequences. A combination of higher levels of both stress management and interpersonal EI coincided with separate reports of lower interpersonal and impulse control consequences. Gender differences observed among the EI factors for binge drinkers suggest that males and females may have unique EI deficits that could influence specific types of consequences. The findings have implications for further research of alcohol prevention curricula on college campuses that address the improvement of specific EI deficits as a means to lowering binge drinking consequences. Application of Emotional Intelligence iii Dedication For my grandparents, Reine, Della, and Albert, who taught me how to instill my soul into everything I do, how to persist in spite of insurmountable mountains, and most importantly, how to love. Application of Emotional Intelligence iv Acknowledgements It would have been impossible to complete this project, with all of the seemingly endless obstacles, without the support of so many people. I want to first express my sincere gratitude to the chair of my committee, Dr. Margaret Glenn, who stepped into the role following the proposal and supported me to its finish with understanding, kindness, and encouragement. Your approach and guidance was exactly what I needed. Likewise, I greatly appreciate the support and assistance I received from my remaining committee members, Drs. Richard Walls, Lynda Birckhead Danley, James Bartee, and Ed Jacobs who contributed to the successful completion of this dissertation in many ways. I would also like to especially acknowledge Dr. Bob Marinelli who offered so much, both personally and professionally, to help me through the doctoral program and my initial dissertation woes. I will be forever grateful to you. My deepest appreciation also goes to my friends and colleagues at the Center for Rehabilitation Synergy at SUNY at Buffalo, especially Dr. David Burganowski, Donna Stabler, and Michelle Thompson, who encouraged me and helped me through all the tough times and the logistical details that went into getting the project physically done in the midst of our hard work. There are far too many individuals from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Hilbert College, and the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee to thank for their support in providing subjects for the study, but I would like to highlight the special assistance I received from Drs. Beth Wilson, Chip Capraro, Laura Owens, and Donna Levin. I remain grateful to all of you and amazed at the extent of your willingness to support me. I want to offer a sincere thank you to my family, friends, and former coworkers for their prayers, encouragement, and patience throughout the years. In particular, I am deeply grateful to my children, Abigail and Zachary, who sacrificed without knowing it and inspired me in ways impossible to describe. With all of the support I have received during this process, it is hard to imagine that any one person would stand out. However, my appreciation for all that Wendy Quarles did to help me see my way to the end can never be fully expressed. It brings such joy to my heart to know that we can finally walk through this field of gold. Application of Emotional Intelligence v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract . ii Dedication . iii Acknowledgements . iv Table of