The role of parents in the development of adolescents' emotional intelligence

Abstract

This research was undertaken to analyse and evaluate the nature and quality of the role of parents in terms of the development of emotional intelligence in their adolescents. The results of this study indicate that emotional intelligence does appear to be higher in adolescents who have been exposed to a caregiver whose predominant style of parenting is that of an emotion coach. Parenting style therefore, appears to be related to a nurturant interaction with open communication and empathy. The adolescents who displayed less of the characteristics of emotional intelligence and experienced a low self-concept, perceived their primary caregivers as less empathetic, as communicating their emotions less effectively and as less able to put strategies into place to deal with their emotions. The researcher recognised limitations of the research and made recommendations on ways in which parents and adolescents can create more suitable environments for the development of emotional intelligence.