THE IMPACT OF MATERNAL EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND BACKGROUND ON CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE

This study aimed to explore the relationship between maternal emotional intelligence, background factors, and children's emotional competence, focusing on how these factors contribute to the emotional development of children aged 1 to 6 years. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey using purposive sampling. A total of two hundred thirty-five mothers and their children participated, ensuring a balanced gender distribution. Results showed that children's emotional competence does not significantly differ by gender. The higher the emotional competence is, the greater the age and grade level are. Maternal emotional intelligence plays a significant role in predicting children's emotional competence. This study highlights the critical role of mothers’ emotional support in fostering children's emotional growth. It also suggests that the role of fathers and other contextual factors must be considered to build a more comprehensive image. Keywords: emotional intelligence, emotional competence, maternal EQ