Emotional Intelligence Among Adolescent Students of Kerala

Abstract

Adolescence is a stage in life where the people find identity crisis, gender discrimination, facing physical and mental changes, taking important decision regarding future. It is the transition phase between growth and development between childhood and adulthood. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an adolescent as any person between ages 10 and 19. This age range falls within WHO’s definition of young people, which refers to individuals between ages 10 and 24. During adolescence (age 12 to 18 yrs), the transition from childhood to adulthood is most important. Children are becoming more independent, and begin to look at the future in terms of career, relationships, families, housing, etc. The individual wants to belong to a society and fit in. Emotional intelligence plays an important role in this phase. Emotional Intelligence signifies the ability to understand and manage ones as well as the others’ emotions. It refers to a combination of skills these include empathy, self-control, self-awareness, sensitivity to the feeling of others, persistence and self-motivation among others. Emotional intelligence plays a pivotal role in the development and well-being of adolescents. Through understanding and managing your own emotions, as well as empathizing with others, adolescents can navigate the complexities of social interactions, academic challenges, and personal growth more effectively. Cultivating emotional intelligence not only enhances your interpersonal relationships but also equips you with valuable skills for resilience, conflict resolution, and decision-making. The purpose of the study was to describe the level of emotional intelligence among adolescent students of Kerala. The sample population consisted of 240 high school students selected by random sampling technique. The tool used is the Emotional Intelligence Inventory prepared and standardized by the investigator. Data analysis used a quantitative approach with descriptive methods. The results showed that emotional intelligence among adolescent students were average in nature.