Validation of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire – Adolescent short form (TEIQue-ASF) among adolescents in Vietnam

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes an individual has about their own and other people's emotions. EI is considered a protector against mental illness and potentially increases mental health. Petrides' Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) is validated among adults globally. However, there is little data yet about its use among Asian countries. This study aims to translate and culturally verify the Trait Emotional Intelligence Adolescent Short Form (TEIQue-ASF) and investigate content validity, construct validity, and reliability targeting answering the research question of whether TEIQue-ASF can be used to measure EI among Vietnamese high school adolescents. The content of the TEIQue-ASF was translated (English to Vietnamese) and back-translated (Vietnamese to English) in consultation with bilingual and bicultural health researchers and pilot-tested among 51 potential respondents. Phraseology and wording were then adjusted, and the final version is named the TEIQue-ASF-VN. The TEIQue-ASF-VN's properties were investigated in a cross-sectional self-report survey among high school students in Central Vietnam. In total, 1593/1686 (94.5%) eligible students (age range 15–18) from nine high schools in rural, urban, and coastline areas completed the survey. Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA) with Oblimin rotation yielded a four-factor solution with all factor loadings above .30. Some facets loaded differently than the original version. The differences in cultural values between Vietnam and Western countries might lead to this partial duplication. Cronbach's alpha of the global score for the TEIQue-ASF-VN was .77. The TEIQue-ASF Vietnamese version is understandable, has good content, and constructs validity and reliability among adolescents in Vietnam. This study contributes to the broader understanding of the applicability and reliability of EI measures across diverse cultural settings. It recommends using the TEIQue-ASF Vietnamese version in schools or communities and studying education, psychology, and public health to investigate trait EI in Vietnam.