Supervisors info:
Αντωνίου Αλέξανδρος-Σταμάτιος, Επίκ. Καθηγητής , ΠΤΔΕ ΕΚΠΑ
Αλευριάδου Αναστασία, Καθηγήτρια, Παιδαγωγικό Τμήμα Ναπιαγωγών Φλώρινας
Συριοπούλου-Δελλή Χριστίνα , Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Εκπαιδευτικής και Κοινωνικής Πολιτικής
Summary:
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence on the mental health of children and adolescents. For the purpose of this study a questionnaire was used, which was divided into three parts. The first part included demographic questions, the second part included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the third part included the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory Youth Version (Bar-On EQ-i: YV). The sample of the present study consisted of 405 children and adolescents attending the 5th and 6th, grade of Elementary School and the 1st and 2nd grade of High School. The results showed that children and adolescents that present high levels of intrapersonal intelligence also have high levels of interpersonal intelligence, stress management and adaptability. Children and adolescents who present high stress management levels also present high adaptability levels, while children and adolescents with high emotional symptoms also present high levels of conduct problems, inattention-hyperactivity and problems with peers. Also children and adolescents with high levels of conduct problems also present high levels of inattention-hyperactivity and problems with peers and negative social behavior. In addition, children and adolescents who present high levels of inattention-hyperactivity also present high levels of problems with peers and negative social behavior. Furthermore, children and adolescents with a high degree of peer issues also present a great deal of negative social behavior. The research also concluded that children and adolescents who report high levels of emotional intelligence also report low levels of the general difficulty index, while children and adolescents with low levels of intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence also present a great degree of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, inattention-hyperactivity and problems with peers, and negative social behavior. Also, children and adolescents with low levels of stress management have a great deal of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, inattention-hyperactivity, and peer issues, and have a negative social attitude. Finally, children and adolescents with low levels of adaptability present at the same time high levels of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, inattention-hyperactivity and problems with peers, and a negative social behavior. Regarding the gender differences, the present study concluded that boys experience more emotional symptoms, more management problems and more inattention-hyperactivity than girls. On the contrary, girls have more problems with peers, but more positive social behavior than boys. Finally, in relation to gender differences, the present study concluded that boys and girls do not differ in terms of levels of interpersonal intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, anxiety management, and adaptability. Regarding emotional intelligence and mental health of children, this study concluded that the increase of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, inattention-hyperactivity, problems with peers and behavioral problems reduces emotional intelligence.
Keywords:
emotional intelligence, mental health, children, adolescents
