Emotional Intelligence, Gender Role Attitudes, and Social Competence of Young Adults from Dual-earner Families

Abstract

This study was planned to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, gender role attitudes and social competence. Correlational research design was used to conduct the study. A sample of (288) university students, both male students (n=123) and female students (n=165) were women, aged between 18 and 25 (M = 21.81, SD = 1.94) years were selected by using non-probability purposive sampling. Self-Report Measure of Emotional Intelligence (Khan & Kamal, 2010), Gender Role Attitudes Scale (Kamal & Saqib, 2004), and Social Competence Scale for Young adults (Shujja & Malik, 2015) were used to assess the constructs of this research. The results of Pearson Product Moment Correlation revealed significant positive relationships between emotional intelligence, gender role attitudes, and social competence. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis revealed emotional selfawareness, interpersonal skills, and egalitarian gender role attitudes emerged as significant positive predictors. Conversely, traditional gender role attitudes were significant negative predictors. Differences across the demographic variables gender, birth order, mother's education, family structure observed on social competence, emotional intelligence and gender role attitudes of young adults from dual earner families. This study reveals the crucial roles of emotional intelligence and gender role attitudes in shaping social competence among young adults from dual-career households. It underscores strong correlations between emotional intelligence components and social competence, as well as the impact of egalitarian gender attitudes on social skills. Practical implications suggest interventions to promote these traits for more adaptable and equitable communities.