Findings from a study in Frontiers in Education revealed that emotional intelligence is related to academic motivation among children. Moreover, emotional intelligence levels differed based on a student's grades and gender.
Boys scored higher in intrapersonal emotional intelligence (understanding and managing one’s emotions) while girls excelled in interpersonal emotional intelligence (interpreting the emotions of others and responding appropriately). When it came to school motivation, 6th graders and girls showed higher levels.
Another important finding was a strong positive link between emotional intelligence and academic motivation. In simpler terms, the better students are at understanding and managing their own emotions and the emotions of others, the more motivated they tend to be in their studies.
Many students find it hard to manage their emotions and stay motivated, which can hurt their school performance. That's why learning about emotional intelligence is so important.
Understanding the Research
The study examines emotional intelligence (EI) and academic motivation in secondary school students in Kazakhstan. It included 682 students from grades 6 to 8 (ages 11-16) across four regions.
Data were collected using an online questionnaire through Google Forms, which made it easy to gather and analyze information while reducing geographical and time limitations for the participants.
The study involved the following scales:
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Emotional intelligence: Lyusin’s emotional intelligence scale assessed interpersonal (IeEI), intrapersonal (IaEI), understanding emotions (UE), managing emotions (ME), and overall emotional intelligence (GLEI).
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Academic motivation: Lukyanova’s academic motivation scale identified the type of academic motivation a student has — whether it’s intrinsic (driven by personal interest), intermediate, or extrinsic (driven by external rewards). It also measures students' desire to succeed or avoid failure and how well they act on their motivations.
These were the key findings:
- The overall general level of emotional intelligence (GLEI) was 79.2. This indicated a moderate level of emotional intelligence among participants.
- 7th graders had lower scores in interpersonal emotional intelligence (IeEI), managing emotions (ME), and GLEI compared to 6th and 8th graders.
- Males scored higher in intrapersonal emotional intelligence (IaEI), ME, and GLEI, while females scored higher in IeEI. These results show society’s beliefs about how boys and girls express emotions and interact with others.
- As for academic motivation, the level was 43.6. Girls and 6th graders had higher motivation than boys and 7th graders.
According to the study, there was a strong link between emotional intelligence and academic motivation, meaning that students with higher emotional intelligence tend to have higher motivation.
Moreover, gender and GLEI (general level of emotional intelligence) are important factors that can predict a student's motivation. However, a student's grade level and age did not have a significant effect on their motivation levels.
Practical Strategies for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
How can adults effectively support children in areas of emotional development and motivation? Here are some insights:
Guide kids in developing their emotional awareness.
At home, parents may set aside regular time to talk about emotions. Tools like feelings charts allow children to easily identify and label their feelings.
In schools, teachers can begin the day or a class with emotion check-ins. Read books and stories that explore emotional themes. This way, students gain insights into different feelings and perspectives.
Teach emotional regulation and problem solving skills.
Teach kids about coping skills to support their emotional regulation. When they encounter challenges, discuss good decision making, such as using pros and cons and understanding the impact of their choices.
When they encounter conflict with others, teach them problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
Encourage setting realistic goals.
The process of setting and working towards goals helps students stay engaged in the learning process. No matter how small these goals are — such as practicing a specific math skill or reading a set number of pages each day — accomplishing them increases their confidence.
Promote peer support.
Students who support one another feel more motivated. Not only do students learn from one another, but they also experience practicing good communication and listening skills, empathy, and problem-solving.
According to the authors, the findings of the study are important for education policymakers because they can guide decisions about school programs and how to better support students' learning experiences.
For more resources, see our Feelings and Emotions Worksheets and Coping Skills Worksheets.
