Meta-emotional intelligence in cochlear-implanted preadolescents and adolescents

Purpose This study investigates differences in meta-emotional beliefs and meta-emotional intelligence between preadolescents and adolescents with cochlear implants (CIs) and their typically hearing (TH) peers. Methods The sample included 86 participants aged 10-18 years, evenly divided between those with CIs and TH individuals. The IE-ACCME test, a multi-method tool, was used to assess meta-emotional intelligence. Statistical analyses were carried out to compare meta-emotional intelligence dimensions between CIs and TH groups. Results The findings reveal that the CIs group had significantly higher overall meta-emotional belief scores, suggesting that individuals with CIs perceive emotions as playing a more significant role in their lives. Despite this, no significant differences were found in subscales related to emotion perception, comprehension, and management, indicating similar beliefs across both groups. However, the CIs group scored higher on the facilitation subscale, reflecting stronger beliefs about using emotions to enhance thinking. Additionally, the CIs group tended to overestimate their emotional abilities, both in everyday life and in emotional ability tests. Conclusion CIs group exhibited heightened meta-emotional beliefs and a tendency to overestimate their emotional abilities, reflecting a distinct meta-emotional intelligence profile linked to hearing loss and cochlear implantation. These findings suggest a distinct emotional profile for individuals with CIs, highlighting the need for targeted emotional and meta-emotional skills training.