Validation of a Chinese version of the Assessing Emotions Scale for measuring the emotional intelligence of Chinese adolescents

This study set out to validate a Chinese-translated version of the widely used Assessing Emotion Scale (C-AES) for use in measuring the emotional intelligence of Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. The convenience sample consisted of 1550 secondary students aged 12–19 years, who were asked to complete the C-AES, the Chinese Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Chinese Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and a test of facial expression recognition. The results suggest a stable four-factor model for the C-AES, comprising the factors of Appraisal of Emotion (AE), Facilitation of Thought (FT), Regulation of Emotion (RE), and Facilitation of Relationships (FR). The test-retest reliability estimates of the factor subscales were good, while the estimates of internal consistency were fair to acceptable. The results largely supported the convergent validity of the C-AES, since its subscales showed significant correlation with convergent measures of empathy and negative emotional states. In general, girls demonstrated higher emotional intelligence (EI) than boys, with a large difference noted in the FR subscale. In summary, the C-AES has demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and good test-retest reliability for use in the self-report assessment of EI.