The mediating effects of adaptive coping and sleep quality in the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and trauma outcomes

Response to trauma varies from post-traumatic distress (PTS) to post-traumatic growth (PTG) seemingly depending on internal and external individual resources. This study examines the relationships among trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI), sleep quality, adaptive coping, and differential outcomes of trauma, namely PTS and PTG, in adolescents exposed to collective chronic adversities, including the health pandemic and sociopolitical instability. This cross-sectional study involved 612 high school students (323 women) aged between 14 and 21 (M = 16.44, SD = 1.25) from Lebanese public schools. Measures assessed trait EI through the (TEI-QUE), adaptive coping (Brief-COPE), post-traumatic stress (PCL-5), sleep quality through the Sleep Quality Assessment, and post-traumatic growth (PTGI-SF). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed with robust estimators. Trait EI directly and indirectly associated with PTS and PTG. We found positive relationships between trait EI and adaptive coping ( β = 0.58, p < .001) and trait EI and sleep quality ( β = 0.37, p < .001), and between adaptive coping, and both PTS ( β = 0.46, p < .001) and PTG ( β = 0.43, p < .001). In addition, we found negative relationships between sleep and PTS ( β = − 0.1, p < .05) and PTG ( β = − 0.15, p < .001). The pathways involving adaptive coping and sleep quality were significantly associated with both PTS (β = 0.23, p < .001) and PTG (β = 0.19, p < .001), respectively, in relation to trait EI. Findings indicate that trauma outcomes are associated with trait EI, adaptive coping strategies, and sleep quality. The study advocates for the integration of these evidence-based cognitive and behavioral trainings in educational programs designed for adolescents in high-risk environments.