Assessment of Relationship between Behavioral Disorders and Emotional Intelligence

Introduction: Emotional intelligence as an aspect of social intelligence determines the individual’s ability in encountering with psychic pressures and adopting with them. Based on previous studies deficiency of emotional intelligence has a relation with disruptive behaviors in adolescents. The purpose of this research was to find the relationship between behavioral disorders and emotional intelligence (Emotional Intelligence Quotient: EQ) in secondary school students in Tehran City. Method: In whole, ۴۲۰ students (۱۹۵ boys and ۲۲۵ girls) from six high schools in three city areas (۱, ۶, ۱۶) selected randomly. Subjects were asked to complete SDQ and SSRI scales. Ultimately, data from ۴۲۰ students were analyzed with Pearson correlation and Multiple Regression. Results: EQ and it's components, that is mean regulation of emotion, appraisal and expression of emotion and utilization of emotions, showed negative relationship with behavioral disorders (respectively r=-۰.۲۷, r=- ۰.۲۹, r=-۰.۱۷, r=-۰.۲۴ and p<۰.۰۰۱). In addition, results suggested that general EQ (Beta=-۰.۲۷۵, p<۰.۰۰۰) and one of it's component's, that is regulation of emotion (Beta=-۰.۲۹۳, p<۰.۰۰۰) can predict significantly behavioral disorders. Conclusion: The role of EQ in shaping behavioral disorders has some important implications especially for professionals in the field of behavioral disorders. For example considering EQ improvement programs in preventing and treating behavioral disorders is necessary.

Keywords:

behavioral disorders , Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ) , emotion regulation , secondary school , Tehran City , SDQ , SSRI