The purpose of this study is to discover the relevance between the psychological well-being of highschool students and their emotional intelligence, which functions as a representative adjustment index in their daily life, as well as their interior an...
The purpose of this study is to discover the relevance between the psychological well-being of highschool students and their emotional intelligence, which functions as a representative adjustment index in their daily life, as well as their interior and exterior control.
Specific research problems connected to this issue are as follows: First, is there a difference in the psychological well-being, emotional intelligence and interior-exterior control of highschool students in accordance to gender? Second, what relevance is there between the psychological well-being of high school students and their emotional intelligence? Third, what relevance is there between the psychological well-being of high school students and their interior-exterior control? Fourth, what influence does psychological well-being have on emotional intelligence and interior-exterior control? Fifth, what influence does the secondary factor to psychological well-being have on the secondary factor to emotional intelligence?
This study targets as research subjects 402 ( 210 males, 192 females) students who are freshman at two different academic high schools of Jeju City. First, to measure the psychological well-being perceived by students, the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) developed by Ryff (1989) and adapted by Kim, Myung So was partially modified and used. To measure emotional intelligence, the emotional intelligence test, produced by Moon, Yong Lin (1996) in accordance to the early emotional intelligence model, was partially modified and supplemented to include a total of 47 questions was used. For the interior-exterior control scale, Rotter's (1966) interior-exterior control material was used. The interior exterior material scale is comprised of 40 questions. A statistical analysis was performed on the 402 copies of the questionnaire distributed by the researcher, using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program, for variance analysis (ANOVA), correlation analysis and regression analysis.
Major results of this research are as follows. First, as a result of conduction a gender oriented variance analysis (ANOVA) of the psychological well-being, emotional intelligence and interior-exterior control, female students were shown to have a higher level of emotional intelligence that was not statistically significant. In the area of psychological well-being and interior-exterior control, there was no statistically significant differences.
Second, the result of a correlation analysis between psychological well-being and emotional intelligence indicates a correlation to, by order of importance, positive relationship, purpose in life, self acceptance, personal growth and autonomy; positive relationship showing the greatest correlation.
Third, the result of correlation analysis between psychological well-being and interior-exterior control indicates a correlation to, by order of importance, personal growth, control over circumstances, positive relationship, autonomy, and purpose in life; personal growth showing the greatest correlation.
Fourth, regression analysis was performed to discover the effect psychological well-being has on emotional intelligence. The result of this analysis shows that it had a positive (β=.587) effect.
Fifth, regression analysis was performed to discover the effect psychological well-being has on interior-exterior control. The result of this analysis shows that it had a positive (β=.430) effect.
Sixth, the result of regression analysis on the secondary factor to psychological well-being and the secondary factor to emotional intelligence indicates that emotional control is having the greatest effect.
On the basis of the above results, the following conclusions were reached.
First, female students have a higher level of emotional intelligence than male students have.
Second, those with greater feeling of psychological well-being show higher emotional intelligence.
Third, those with greater feeling of psychological well-being have higher interior-exterior control.
Fourth, the explanatory power of psychological well-being for emotional intelligence amounts to 34.4%, showing a positive effect of psychological well-being on emotional intelligence.
Fifth, the explanatory power of psychological well-being for interior -exterior control amounts to 18.5%, showing a positive effect of psychological well-being on interior exterior control.
Sixth, psychological well-being explains 16.9% for emotional control, 11.0% for emotional awareness, 6.9% for empathy, 15.0% for emotional expression and 6.0% for emotional utilization.
By discovering that psychological well-being of high school students is an important effect factor towards their emotional intelligence and interior-exterior control, this research was able to provide suggestions for future intervention measures towards a differentiated emotional education, which purpose is to enhance the psychological well-being of students. Some proposals for better understanding the psychological well-being of high school students and for the growth and development of their emotional intelligence and interior exterior control are as follows.
First, we need to recognize that there is a close relationship between psychological well-being and emotional intelligence. We also need to strengthen the ability of students to better understand other people through the affective rather than the subject-centered cognitive aspect of counseling education and activities. There is also a need to strengthen their social skills that gives them the ability to deal with and act wisely in human relationship.
Second, I propose that students are in need of guidance that educates them to the fact that their lives are shaped by their personal choices. This can be achieved through counseling education and programs that can promote better understanding of their psychological well-being as well as influencing interior-exterior control.