Diagnosis of emotional intelligence traits in public higher education students

Abstract

Emotional intelligence in the workplace and in the training of professionals is becoming increasingly important. Given the feedback received from employers of graduates of the National Technological Institute of Mexico, Tláhuac campus (TecNM – Tláhuac), this diagnostic study was carried out on the levels of emotional intelligence (EI) in final-year students of TecNM – Tláhuac, with the aim of identifying demographic factors that may significantly influence their training in EI. The Emotional Intelligence Traits Questionnaire (TEIQue-SF) was used and a statistical analysis was performed that included normality tests and calculation of the Pearson correlation coefficient between demographic variables and EI scores. The results showed that there is a moderate direct correlation between the employment situation and the overall EI score (r = 0.49); the employment situation and the Sociability aspect (r = 0.53); likewise, a moderate inverse correlation between living with both parents

and the Emotionality aspect (r = -0.57); and a moderate direct correlation between having dependents and the aspect of well-being (r = 0.49). These results suggest that employment and economic responsibilities may be associated with higher levels of EI, while living with both parents could have the opposite effect. It is concluded that these findings provide useful information for planning intervention strategies, as well as variables to identify students to whom they should be directed, in order to effectively strengthen the training in emotional skills of students.