Emotional Problems as Predictor of Emotions Related Outcomes among Adolescents: Moderating Role of Personality Types

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the role of emotional problems in the context of emotion related outcomes which includes emotional intelligence, empathy, regulation, and expressivity. Further, in order to examine the relationship between emotional problems and emotional outcomes, this study also aims to figure out the moderating role of personality traits. For this purpose, a sample of (N = 1000) adolescents was enlisted from different areas of the Punjab province (Pakistan) by using purposive sampling technique. For data collection, Urdu version of the scales having determined psychometric properties such as School Children Problem Scale, Big Five Personality Inventory, Emotional Intelligence Scale, Emotional Empathy Scale, Emotional Expressivity Scale, and Emotional Regulation Scale were used. Data was analyzed by using SPSS software version-21. Descriptive statistics, simple linear regression and hierarchical multiple regression were used for hypotheses testing. The findings of current study revealed that emotional problems significantly negatively predicted emotional intelligence (B = -.39, p < .01), emotional empathy (B = -.50, p < .01), emotional regulation (B = -.43, p < .01), and emotional expressivity (B = -.36, p < .01). Moderated multiple regression analysis revealed that personality traits did not play moderating role between the emotional problems and emotional intelligence (p > .05). Neuroticism (B = - .09, p < .01), openness to experience (B = -.18, p < .001) and conscientiousness (B = - .11, p < .01) did not reveal any association among the variables. However, they have played moderating role to determine the association between emotional problems and emotional regulation. In addition, Neuroticism (B = -.12, p < .01) played moderating role between the emotional problems and emotional empathy which has determined the link between two variables. Moreover, no moderating role of personality trait was found between emotional problems and emotional expressivity (p > .05). On the basis of gender and institution, findings on demographic differences did not indicate any difference in (t = 1.32, p > .05), socioeconomic status (t = 1.13, p > .05), family system (t = 1.27, p > .05)(t = 1.08, p > .05), and emotional problems. However, results of residential status (t = 2.34, p < .05) discovered that adolescents living in urban areas exhibited more emotional problems than adolescents belonging to the rural areas.