Adolescent psychological strength: relationship to emotional intelligence and values

Protective factors of mental health, such as emotional intelligence, values, and a wide spectrum of variables pertaining to personal and psychological adjustment, have become a main focus for research in recent years. The general aim of this study, with its quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, inferential and correlational methodology, was to verify the relationships between emotional intelligence, values, self-esteem, optimism and frustration tolerance in an adolescent population. Information was collected from a sample of 161 secondary education students in Madrid (Spain) (age in years: M = 14.51; SD = 1.74). From the results obtained, self-esteem, optimism and frustration tolerance were observed in positive relationships with the variables emotional clarity, emotional repair, social commitment and gratitude. Gratitude and social recognition were confirmed as predictors in self-esteem and optimism, as was emotional repair in optimism and frustration tolerance. The need for programmed interventions in emotional education is reaffirmed as a key element in the development of personal and psychological well-being and, consequently, of adequate mental health in adolescents.