Abstract:

It is a known fact that the individuals, whose social and emotional aspects are developed, are more productive in their working lives. Emotional intelligence levels of individuals also reflect in their bilateral relations. Hence, it is expected that there will be a meaningful relationship between emotional intelligence levels with reliable and high-quality friendships. In this study, the effects of emotional intelligence levels of university students on the quality of friendship were analyzed. The sample consists of 538 students (242 female and 296 male) studying at Adana Science and Technology University and Çukurova University. A face to face questionnaire, which was prepared to determine to what extend the friendship quality of students was affected by emotional intelligence levels, was applied. The questionnaire includes emotional intelligence scale (EQ-NED) and friendship quality scale (FQUA) questions in addition to the questions created for determining demographic characteristics. Reliability analyses of the scales used in the study were performed and Cronbach’s alpha value of EQ-NED scale was found as 0.791 while Cronbach’s alpha value of FQUA scale was found as 0.890. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was concluded that there was a statistically significant relationship between the emotional intelligence levels and friendship quality of the university students. According to the genders of the students participating in the study it was observed that the emotional intelligence level of the female students was higher compared to the male students. It was determined that the emotional intelligence levels of the students did not differ according to the age variable and there was a significant difference between the emotional intelligence of the “health sciences” students and “science” and “social sciences” students according to the fields of education.

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