An Examination of Emotional Intelligence on Academic and Social Adjustment Among College Students

Abstract

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood has been recognized as a significant time in an individual’s life. This period in development requires adjustment, highlighted for many by the transition from high school to college. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been identified as a potential protective factor for emerging adults during this period of transition. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of EI on social and academic adjustment among college students and to investigate the moderating role of EI on the relation between perceived discrimination and college adjustment. Regression analysis found statistically significant effects of Global EI and Self Control on academic adjustment and of Well Being on social adjustment. Further, a moderation analysis found that Global EI and the four factors of EI (Well Being, Self Control, Emotionality, and Sociability) were not significant moderators in the relation between perceived discrimination and social and academic adjustment. These findings demonstrate the importance of EI for academic and social adjustment among college students. These findings also highlight the need to explore other facets of EI beyond a global score and determine which facets of EI can serve as protective factors for students during this transitional period. Future directions for research are also discussed to highlight the importance of collecting data across university campus around the country to compare results from different environments (i.e., HSI vs. PWI vs. HBCU; public vs. private) as well as how university and college administrators can support the social-emotional wellness of students.