Emotional intelligence as a predictor of Marital satisfaction and psychological distress Among working couples

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore emotional intelligence, marital satisfaction and psychological distress among working couples. Marriage is a vital transition in one's life and having a professional career has become obvious for both the individuals in marital unit. Subcomponents of emotional intelligence are linked to quality of intimate relationship especially marriage hence, contributing to marital satisfaction. Emotional intelligence is an important factor to reduce stress and improve the quality of marriage. In current study Schutte's emotional intelligence scale (Schutte et aI., 1998) Couple satisfaction index (Funk & Rogge, 2007) Depression anxiety stress scale (Lovibond, 1995) instruments were used to assess levels of emotional intelligence, marital satisfaction and psychological distress among working couples. The sample comprised of 115 couples currently employed with minimum education of 14 years. It is hypothesized that emotional intelligence will be positively correlated to marital satisfaction and negatively correlated with psychological distress. Emotional intelligence will predict marital satisfaction and psychological distress. The results of study revealed that there is positive correlation between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction. Multiple linear regression showed that EI significantly predicts marital satisfaction. The findings of the study also revealed that emotional intelligence is negatively correlated to psychological distress also EI significantly predicts stress and anxiety among working couples. The findings suggest that screening of psychological problems and making the married population learn emotional intelligence skills can help them to improve their levels of marital satisfaction and decreased psychological distress with better adjustment at workplace.