Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and Big Five Personality Dimensions among University Students

Abstract

The aim of present research study is to investigate the relationship of emotional intelligence and big five personality dimensions (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Openness to experience) among university students of Karachi, Pakistan. The sample of 331 students (male = 166, female = 165) with Mean age of 21.70, (SD = 2.700) was gathered from different department of university of Karachi. Demographic information form, Big Five Inventory (Oliver, 1991) and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Form (TEIQue-SF; Petrides & Furnham, 2003) were administered on all participants. Data analysis was done by using SPSS (version18). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was computed to find out the correlation of big five personality dimensions (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Openness to experience) with emotional intelligence. Results reflect that Extraversion (r (331) = .452, p< .001), Agreeableness (r(331) = .228, p< .001), Conscientiousness(r(331) = .324, p< .001), and Openness to experience (r (331)= .285,p< .001) are significantly positively correlated with emotional intelligence whereas Neuroticism (r (331)= -.333, p< .001) significantly negatively correlated with Emotional Intelligence.