Emotional Intelligence as a Correlate to Internet Addiction Among Adolescents: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a life skill of emotional competence that lays the foundation for success in diverse aspects of life, at both interpersonal and intrapersonal levels. EI leads to emotional stability and effective decision-making. Previously, several research studies have tried to explore EI as a correlate to internet addiction (IA). Dysregulation of emotions can be one of the reasons for addiction and vice versa, among adolescents. Moreover, it profoundly impacts an individual’s growth and capabilities in the formative period. This study investigates how frequently adolescents experience internet addiction and its association with emotional intelligence, treating emotional intelligence as a related factor in developing internet dependency. The research examines the relationship between the two variables across genders. A cross-sectional study was performed on 677 participants, aged 12 to 19, who were randomly sampled from the student population in Lucknow, India. Data was gathered from participants through self-reported questionnaires, including the Internet Addiction Test (Dr. Young, 1996) and the Emotional Intelligence Test (Dr. Schutte, 1998). Analysis using Spearman’s rank correlation demonstrated an inverse relationship between EI and IA. A statistically significant correlation exists in the two components of Emotional Intelligence, i.e. (i) Managing own emotions (ii) Utilisation of emotions. While the other two components (iii) Perception of emotions and (iv) Managing Others’ Emotions show a weak relationship with IA. Based on the study findings, it is helpful to design and implement effective interventions to mitigate IA and improve EI among adolescents.