Development and reliability and validity testing of the college student ecological emotional intelligence scale

This study aimed to develop the College Student Ecological Emotional Intelligence Scale and evaluate its reliability and validity.

Drawing on the three-dimensional structure theory of emotional intelligence and ecological systems theory, we developed an initial 29-item scale through a literature review and expert interviews. Four independent samples were used: Sample 1 (N = 5,000) for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis; Sample 2 (N = 5,000) for confirmatory factor analysis, criterion-related validity, and reliability testing; Sample 3 (N = 18,084) for cross-sample validation and measurement invariance testing; and Sample 4 (N = 643) for incremental validity testing after controlling for traditional emotional intelligence.

(1) The final scale contains 29 items across five dimensions: social-emotional regulation ability, ecological mindfulness, negative emotion insight, affective narrative ability, and interpersonal emotional sensitivity. (2) Confirmatory factor analysis supported the five-factor model, with good fit indices (CFI = 0.938, TLI = 0.932, RMSEA = 0.050, SRMR = 0.042). (3) Criterion-related validity analyses showed that total and dimensional scores were positively associated with psychological resilience and negatively associated with SCL-90 symptom factors. (4) Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis supported measurement invariance across gender. (5) The total Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.953, and all subscales met accepted reliability standards.

The College Student Ecological Emotional Intelligence Scale demonstrated sound reliability and validity and may serve as a useful instrument for assessing ecological emotional intelligence among Chinese university students.