Emotional Intelligence: Relevance and Implications for Addiction

Emotional intelligence (EI) is widely regarded as an important predictor of a diverse set of health and life success outcomes. There is growing evidence to demonstrate the role that EI plays in the development of both substance use and behavioral addictions. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the still limited, but growing research literature on the relevance of EI and related constructs to addictions. There is substantial empirical evidence to suggest that EI is an important risk factor for the development of addictions. This points to a need for greater research attention into the specific mechanisms linking EI to addictions, as well as the potential utility of EI training in the treatment of addictions. Future research should examine the specific components of EI and mediator variables that underlie the relationship between EI and addictions, as well as develop and evaluate EI training programs for use in treatment.