How Does Emotional Intelligence Shape the Mental Health of University Students?

Background: Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in shaping the mental health of every individual, influencing their ability to manage stress, navigate social challenges, and maintain psychological well-being. Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the role of emotional intelligence and its sub-dimensions in predicting the mental health of university students. Material and Method: The participants of the study comprised 180 university students from different universities across Haryana (India). The data were collected from the sample using self-reported measures such as the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale and the Mental Health Inventory. The collected data was statistically analyzed using descriptive analysis and regression analysis on SPSS – 26 software. Results and Discussion: The outcomes of the study determined that the dimensions of emotional health including ‘appraisal of own emotions, appraisal of other’s emotions, regulation of own emotions, and utilization of emotions’ along with the overall emotional intelligence are statistically found to predict the mental health of the university students. However, the dimension ‘regulation of other’s emotions’ does not act as a significant predictor of mental health. Conclusion: The present study concluded that emotional intelligence is one of the important factors in our mental health. This evidence suggests that emotional intelligence is an integral part of our lives and should be encouraged at every stage of our lives.