Big Five Personality Factors as Predictors of Emotional Intelligence among Adolescents

The present research was planned to study the Big Five Personality Factors as predictors of emotional intelligence among adolescents. In the present study sample (N) of 530 students (Boys= 288 & Girls=242) were obtained through random sampling method. The age group was between 17 to 20 (M= 17.31, SD= .88) years. Two measures were used to collect the data to study the variables. NEO-Five Factor Inventory-3 (NEO-FFI-3; McCrae & Costa, 2010) was used to measure neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS; Schutte et al., 1998) was used to measure perception of emotions, managing self-emotions, managing others’ emotions, and emotion utilization. After data screening and cleaning procedure it was subjected to Pearson’s product moment correlation to study the relationship among the variables. To test the predictability of the predictors stepwise multiple regressions was used. Results showed that personality variables viz. extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness had significant positive correlation with emotional intelligence, and neuroticism had significant negative correlation with emotional intelligence. Agreeableness had positive but non-significant correlation with emotional intelligence. All five personality factors were found to be significant predictors of emotional intelligence.