Journal of Psychology & Behavioral Science

The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator between Perceptions of Parental Acceptance/Rejection and Psychological Adjustment in Kuwaiti Adolescents, Youth, and Young Adults.
Ramadan A. Ahmed Ph.D.; Maha J. A. Al-Jarallah Ph.D.

Abstract
The present study investigates the relationships between emotional intelligence and the perception of parental acceptance/rejection, and psychological adjustment in 319 of Kuwaiti adolescents, youth, and young adults aged 13-32 years [ 27.7% males and 73.3% females, respectively] by using Arabic versions of the following three questionnaires: Bar-OnEmotionalIntelligenceInventory (EQ-2), Rohner„s AcceptanceandRejection Questionnaire (PARQ), andPersonalityAssessmentQuestionnaire (PAQ). Results showed that 1. Generally, no significant differences have been found between males and females, older and younger, and married and single/divorced/widowed participants concerning their perception of parental acceptance-rejection. 2. Males, older and married participants reported significantly higher scores on measure of emotional intelligence (and its five subscales: Personal Intelligence, Social Intelligence, the Ability to Adaptation, Pressure Control, and General Mood) and the healthy psychological adjustment, compared with females, younger and single participants. 3. Emotional intelligence (the total score and the score on each of the PQ-2 five subscales) correlated significantly positive with both participants" perception of maternal and paternal acceptance and their scores on healthy psychological adjustment, and significantly negative with both participants" perception of maternal and paternal rejection and their psychological maladjustment. 4. As expected, perception of maternal and paternal acceptance correlated significantly positive with psychological adjustment, while perception of maternal and paternal rejection correlated significantly positive with psychological maladjustment. Finally, a Multiple Mediator (Preacher & Hayes, 2008) showed strongly the effectiveness of emotional intelligence in mediating the relation between perception of maternal and paternal acceptance-rejection and psychological adjustment.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jpbs.v9n2a9