Family structure as determinant of emotional intelligence of adolescents

The present study analyzed the predictive association of family structure and emotional intelligence, family structure wise difference and gender difference in emotional intelligence of adolescents. After literature review following hypotheses were formulated: (1) Family structure will predict the emotional intelligence of the participants; (2) There will be a significant difference in the emotional intelligence of the participants from joint and nuclear families; (3) There would be gender difference in emotional intelligence. A sample comprising 400 adolescents, (200 belonging to joint and 200 to nuclear families) with mean age 14.49 (SD=+1.29) was drawn from various schools of Karachi, Pakistan. Consent form, demographic form, and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire for Adolescents (TEIQue-ASF) (Petrides et al, 2006) were administered. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and t-test were calculated. Results indicate that family structure does not predict emotional intelligence while the mean scores difference of emotional intelligence of participants belonging to nuclear or joint families was insignificant. However, the research found gender differences in emotional intelligence.