EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IMPACTS THE ASSOCIATION OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND CONDUCT PROBLEMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Existing studies have consistently documented the beneficial role of parental involvement in reducing conduct problems among adolescents. Yet, studies examining factors that could moderate or strengthen this association are lacking. The present researchers investigated the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between parental involvement and conduct problems among adolescents in Nigeria. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, 600 in-school adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, who were attending public secondary schools in South-Eastern Nigeria (males=360, females=240, mean age=14.64 years, SD=1.31) were conveniently. These participants completed measures of emotional intelligence, parental involvement and conduct problems. Hayes regression-based PROCESS Macro results showed that emotional intelligence moderated the relationship between parental involvement and conduct problems. Specifically, as emotional intelligence rises, the beneficial impact of parental involvement in reducing conduct problems became stronger. Interventions should be tailored towards enhancing emotional intelligence alongside promoting parental involvement to boost the reduction of conduct problems among adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescence, conduct problems, emotional intelligence, moderation, parental involvement.