Role of Emotional Intelligence in Romantic Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing among Early Adults

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships among emotional intelligence, relationship satisfaction and well-being. We know that emotional intelligence is how much important for interpersonal relationships. It helps us to grasp both our own and others' emotions. In interpersonal relationships, it is required to understand one other’s emotions to sustain the relationship. In lack of emotional intelligence there could be frequent conflicts between partners. Researches have shown that emotional intelligence also affects a person’s overall well-being. It is because if a person understands other’s emotions, he can behave accordingly and adjust himself according to the situation. Today, we are seeing a surge in conflicts and separations in relationships. Researches have also shown that somewhere lack of emotional intelligence and understanding between partners is responsible for those conflicts and separations in relationships. We tried to examine the same in this study that how emotional intelligence affects the interpersonal relationships and overall well-being. The major goal of this research was to find the links between 1. Emotional intelligence and relationship quality 2. Emotional intelligence and overall well-being. The sample of this study was comprised of both married and unmarried couples having age between 18-30 years and having a relationship older than 6 months. There are 3 measurement tools used in this study. To assess emotional intelligence, Rakesh Pandey and Tulika Anand's Multidimensional Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Scale - Revised (MSREIS-R) is utilised. To measure relationship quality the Relationship Assessment Scale developed by Susan S. Hendrick is employed and to measure well-being the P.G.I. General Well-being measure developed by S.K. Verma & Anita Verma is used. It is a correlational study and correlation between emotional intelligence and relationship quality, and emotional intelligence and well-being, and other necessary analysis is computed based on the obtained data. The findings suggest that there is a positive correlation of .370 between emotional intelligence and relationship quality that is highly significant and there is also a mild positive correlation of .281 between emotional intelligence and well-being with good significance. This study concludes that emotional intelligence has an important role in relationship satisfaction and it is a good predictor of relationship quality. Whereas, it also has importance in well-being but not in a straight manner because emotional intelligence can sometimes disrupt the person’s well-being. It is a concern that can be taken for further studies focused on well-being.