Are Adolescents Emotionally Competent? Exploring the Role of Demographic Variables

Description

Page: 264-270

Wilma Neetha Vaz and V. Premanand (Department of PG Studies and Research in Psychology, St. Agnes Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research, Mangaluru, Karnataka)

Emotional competence involves the purposeful and comprehensive expression of emotions, regulating emotional expressiveness and experiences, and understanding personal and others’ emotions. It is vital in fostering positive life outcomes, including mental health, interpersonal relationships, learning, and academic achievement. The development of emotional competence during adolescence is particularly significant as it profoundly impacts the personal and professional aspects of an individual’s adult life. This study aimed to assess the levels of emotional competence among adolescents across various factors, including age, gender, grade level, school type, medium of instruction, and education board. This research employed a survey-based approach, utilizing an exploratory and descriptive research design. The sample consisted of 1,081 male and female adolescents aged 13 to 18 from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Using a convenient sampling technique, data were collected using the Emotional Competence Scale (Sisodia & Choudhary, 2012). Descriptive statistics were initially applied, followed by a Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to examine the variations in emotional competence across the specified factors. The analysis revealed significant variations in emotional competence among adolescents based on gender, school type, and education board.