Trait and Ability Emotional Intelligence in Adolescents With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
Social-emotional impairments are considered core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although numerous interventions have been developed to remediate the social deficits in children with ASD, few have been designed to meet the needs of youth. Given research demonstrating relations between emotional intelligence (EI) and social outcomes in adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS), the current study examined both trait and ability EI to elucidate the nature of the EI strengths and impairments in youth with and without ASD. Twenty-five adolescents with ASD and 25 adolescents without ASD aged 13 to 17 years completed measures of ability and trait EI. Findings suggest that aspects of both trait and ability EI were significantly weaker in adolescents with ASD compared with typically developing adolescents. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.
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Biographies
Roxanne Boily is a school psychologist working with children of all ages in the province of Manitoba. Roxanne has met many exceptional children, teens, and adults with ASD through her current work as a school psychologist, as a camp coach, and as the facilitator of an adult peer support group.
Sydney E. Kingston is a Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Manitoba and is currently conducting her thesis in the Social Cognition Lab.
Janine M. Montgomery is an associate professor in the Psychology department at the University of Manitoba, where she teaches primarily in the School Psychology program. Janine directs research in the Social Cognition Lab and is a C. Psych Candidate (MB).
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Article first published online: July 6, 2017
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