Emotional Intelligence and Aggression among University Students of Pakistan: A Correlational Study

ABSTRACT

The present study aims at examining the relationship between emotional intelligence and aggression and investigating gender differences for both variables. A sample of 100 University students (50 males and 50 females) were recruited from two adjacent cities of Pakistan. Emotional Intelligence (EI) of participants was measured by the Emotional Intelligence Scale, whereas Aggression Scale was used to measure aggression level. Results indicated a negative association between emotional intelligence and aggression (r = − 0.34, p < .001) specifically with hostility and anger subscale of aggression (p < .001). Moreover, no significant gender differences were observed for emotional intelligence (p > .001) and aggression except for the physical aggression subscale on which male students scored higher as compared to female students (p < .05). Results suggest that emotional intelligence could be a protective factor against specific aspects of aggression. Therefore, appropriate management programs should be developed to enhance the different dimensions of emotional intelligence inhibiting aggressive behavior.

KEYWORDS:

• Emotional intelligence
• aggression
• gender differences
• university students
• Pakistan

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to our students of International Islamic University, Pakistan, and the National University of Modern Language Islamabad for all the support and motivation.

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical standards and informed consent

Permission from the Institute Ethics Committee of NUML Islamabad was obtained before this study.