*2.3. Instruments*

2.3.1. Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS)

The Spanish version of WLEIS was validated by Extremera et al. [74] and adapted by Merino-Soto et al. [75] for studies in Peru. This instrument includes 4 dimensions and 16 items, with 4 items for each dimension [76]. The dimensions are: (a) appraisal and expression of emotion in self (item example: I have a good sense of why I have certain feelings most of the time); (b) appraisal and recognition of emotion in others (item example: I'm a good observer of others' emotions); (c) self-regulation of emotion (item example: I am able to control my temper and handle difficulties rationally); and (d) the use of emotion to facilitate performance (item example: I always set goals for myself and then try my best

to achieve them). It featured seven response alternatives on a Likert scale, ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree). Wong and Law [1] reported the Cronbach alpha reliability ranged from 0.83 to 0.90. In their research, Extremera et al. [75] reported the Cronbach alpha reliability: Self-Emotion Appraisal 0.79, Other's Emotion Appraisal 0.81, Use of Emotion 0.81, and Regulation of Emotion 0.84.

#### 2.3.2. Resilience scale (ER-25)

The resilience scale is a self-report scale. It evaluates the degree of individual resilience through two factors: (a) Factor I, personal competence, composed of 17 items; (b) Factor II, acceptance of self and life, composed of 8 items. These factors represented the following characteristics of resilience: (a) meaningfulness, (b) existential aloneness, (c) self-reliance, (d) equanimity, and (e) perseverance [22]. This scale is composed of 25 items with a Likert scale of 7 points, ranging from 1 to 7. The sum of the scale scores is the total score, and the values range from 25 to 175. This scale was validated in Peru by Castilla et al. [77], and the Cronbach alpha reliability was 0.89. A representative item of this scale is "It's okay if there are people who don't like me". Cejudo et al. [43] reported the Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.81.

#### 2.3.3. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)

The RSES is a popular instrument used to evaluate perceived global self-esteem. This scale consists of 10 items, of which 5 are positively worded and 5 are negatively worded. In the rating of the scale, the negatively worded items are assigned an inverse score; for the overall score of self-esteem, the scores of all items are added together, allowing scores ranging between 10 and 40 points, where a higher score expresses high levels of selfesteem. It was adapted into Spanish by Martín-Albo et al. [78]. In Peru, it was adapted and validated by Ventura-León et al. [79], who reported the reliability of H >.80 (Index H is the measure of reliability, and it is interpreted in the same way as the Cronbach alpha reliability > 0.70). Ventura-León et al. [79] conducted a confirmatory factor analysis for validating RSES. In addition, for this study, we used the well-validated Spanish version. Pérez-Fuentes et al. [50] reported the Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.82. A representative item of this scale is "I believe that I have some good qualities".

#### 2.3.4. Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)

The SWLS measures the respondents' perceptions of their satisfaction with life [80]. It consists of five items rated on a seven-point Likert scale. It was adapted into Spanish by Vázquez et al. [38], who obtained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87, and it was validated in Peru by Calderón de la Cruz et al. [81], who obtained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.90. A representative item of this scale is "I am satisfied with my life". Cejudo et al. [43] reported the Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.83.

#### *2.4. Data Analysis*

All data analyses were performed using the SPSS version 28 statistical program (IBM, 2016). The reliability of each instrument was examined by computing the Cronbach's alpha coefficients (*α*) and descriptive statistics (M = mean; SD = standard deviation). Pearson's r was computed between all variables. Then, independent sample *t*-tests were computed to examine sex differences, along with Cohen's d values, which were evaluated by the following guidelines: <0.50 (small), 0.50–0.79 (moderate), and ≥0.80 (large). In addition, simultaneous multiple regression was used to examine how well the EI dimensions (appraisal and expression of emotion in self, appraisal and recognition of emotion in others, self-regulation of emotion, and the use of emotion to facilitate performance), resilience, and self-esteem predicted life satisfaction.
