Relationship Between emotional Inteligence and Loneliness among Adults and Older Population

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine whether there exists a significant relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Loneliness among adults and older population. After detailed literature review, it was hypothesized that there that there would be a significant relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Loneliness. The second hypothesis that derived was there would be a significant difference in Emotional Intelligence level of adults and older population. Another hypothesis was that there would be a significant difference in feelings of loneliness of adults and older population. The sample size consisted of 60 participants who were selected for this study, 30 participants were from young adult population and 30 participants were from older population. From both young adults and older population, 15 females and 15 male participants were chosen. Young adults of age 18-25 were recruited through convenient sampling from Bahria University KarachiCampus, while the older population of age 60 and above was recruited through convenient sampling from different areas of Karachi. Emotional Intelligence was tested through Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, while Loneliness was assessed using Revised UCLA Loneliness scale. Quota sampling was used to recruit the participants. Peasron Coefficient of Correlation was applied to determine the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Loneliness. The result showed significant weak negative correlation (r= -0.282) thus verifying the hypothesis that there is a relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Loneliness. The observed negative weak correlation between the two variables depicts that indeed those individual who have high Emotional Intelligence would more likely to have low level of loneliness and vice-versa. However, moderate significant difference was found in Emotional Intelligence level of adults and older population (p= -1.938). When feeling of loneliness of adults and older population was checked, a significant moderate difference was