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Abstract
Evidence showing a positive relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and quality of life (QOL) has been documented in different populations; nevertheless, few studies have explored the association among undergraduate students. In addition, the aforementioned studies focused on university students in Western countries. Several studies have also found that EI competencies can be learned and enhanced through appropriate training techniques. The current study thus sought to bridge the gap in the existing literature on the relationship between EI and QOL through self-evaluation of Taiwanese college students. A total of 438 undergraduate students were recruited from 10 universities and technology universities in Taiwan. According to the results, EI was positively associated with all four domains of QOL through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in the developed research model. Implications and recommendations of the results are given, and future research possibilities discussed.
Keywords: emotional intelligence (EI), quality of life (QOL), college students, training
Introduction
The issue of quality of life (QOL) has gained increasing attention in the fields of psychological, social, behavioral, health, and management sciences during the past few decades (Oliveira, Brochado, & Correia, 2018). The slightly different terms of QOL, such as well-being, wellness, happiness, and life satisfaction, can be associated with a wide range of positive outcomes, such as better health, social relationships, and work success (Oliveira et al., 2018; Kuykendall, Tay, & Ng, 2015; Andereck, Valentine, Vogt, & Knopf, 2007), although researchers' understanding of this topic is still in its relative infancy (Smith & Diekmann, 2017).
The international collaborative review of the WHO (World Health Organization) coordination group in Geneva sought to define QOL and provide an approach to assessing quality of life on an international scale. QOL was defined as "individuals' perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. It is a broad ranging concept affected in a complex way by the persons' physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships and their relationship to salient features of their environment" (The WHOQOL Group, 1995). An assessment was then developed to cover key physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains of life. This new, updated assessment improves upon earlier assessments, which often...