Exploring the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits Among Students

Abstract

Objective: To compare the scores obtained in the students’ emotional intelligence and the Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) to establish their correlation and to further see the effect of these traits on the level of the students’ emotional intelligence.

Study Design: A Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the International Islamic University, Islamabad from January 2019 to January 2020.

Methods: The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive. The study was carried out at International Islamic University, Islamabad. A convenient sample of 70 students (Female n= 39, Male n=31) with age ranging from 20-30 years was selected. A self-structured Performa was used to assess socio-demographic variables. To measure emotional intelligence and personality trait, Schutte Self Report Emotional Test and Big Five Inventory were administered respectively.

Results: Emotional Intelligence has a significant positive relationship with Extraversion (r=.43, p<0.05). Conscientiousness (r=.35 p<0.05) and Openness to experiences (r=.36,p<0.05) and with Agreeableness (r= .29, p<0.05). However, no significant relationship was indicated by results between Emotional Intelligence and Neuroticism (r =.41, p<0.09).

Conclusion: It is found out that emotional intelligence has effects on certain personality traits such as extraversion, openness to experience, agreeability and conscientiousness however, it does not seem to affect neuroticism.