What is it about?
This study examines the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and psychological health among Kuwaiti university students. Using validated measures of emotional intelligence alongside indicators of mental health (such as depression, loneliness, and emotional distress), the research investigates whether students who are better at understanding and managing their emotions also report better psychological well-being. Data were collected from a large sample of undergraduate students, and both ability-based and self-report models of emotional intelligence were examined. The findings show that higher emotional intelligence is associated with lower levels of psychological distress and better emotional adjustment, even after accounting for related personality and cognitive factors.
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Why is it important?
Extends EI research beyond Western samples: Provides early empirical evidence from a Middle Eastern cultural context. Links EI to mental health, not just performance: Moves emotional intelligence research beyond academic or job outcomes to psychological well-being. Practical relevance for universities: Suggests that developing emotional skills may help reduce depression and emotional distress among students. Foundational value: Serves as an early reference point for later work connecting emotional intelligence, health, and adjustment.
Perspectives
When conducting this study, my primary interest was to move emotional intelligence research beyond performance and achievement and examine its relevance to psychological health. University students often experience significant emotional and academic pressures, yet little was known about how emotional abilities might protect mental well-being in non-Western contexts. This work reflects my belief that emotional intelligence is not merely a “soft skill,” but a meaningful psychological resource that can influence how individuals cope with stress, regulate emotions, and maintain mental health.
Prof. Othman H Alkhadher
Kuwait University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Health in a Sample of Kuwaiti College Students, Perceptual and Motor Skills, June 2007, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.2466/pms.104.3.923-936.
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