THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT: A REVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING

How well an adolescent develops psychologically, performs academically and interacts with peers is largely affected by emotional intelligence (EI). By bringing together many studies into one review, the paper investigates the important functions of emotional intelligence among teenagers using new literature from 2020 to 2024 across different cultures. A thorough review of recent studies indicates that emotional intelligence plays a role in academic performance, mainly through self-efficacy, motivation and resilience. When the samples contain 96 to 1,221 participants, research confirms that adolescents with more emotional intelligence are healthier mentally, less anxious or depressed, find positive relationships with peers and show better abilities in society. Understanding development in teens is possible using a four-branch model for emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is proven in China, Spain, Germany, Ethiopia and Venezuela to be important for people all over the world. Some mediators enhance coping, raise students’ interest in learning and build more social connections. According to the review, emotional intelligence acts as protection for mental health and also encourages positive outcomes in development. The paper discusses ways to support schools, educators and mental health care and stresses that evidence-based strategies should focus on emotional skill training during this important period.