The link between identity style and intimacy balance: Does emotional intelligence provide the key?

The relationships between identity processing styles (informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant), emotional intelligence (EI), and various forms of intimacy were examined. Two hundred and thirty one young adult men (N=71) and women (N=160) completed measure of identity styles, identity commitment, and intimacy, with a sub-sample (N=146 37 men and 109 women) also complete the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso EI Test. Both the informational and normative identity styles were positively related to the measures of intimacy, whereas the diffuse identity style was inversely related to intimacy. Hierarchical regressions revealed that only the informational style made a unique positive contribution to intimacy balance over-and-above identity commitment. The information style was also positively related to EI, the diffuse style was inversely related to EI, and EI was positively related to intimacy. Structural equation modeling confirmed that EI mediates the relationships between identity processing and intimacy for the informational and diffuse styles. --P.ii.