A Comparative Study of Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Well-Being among Psychology and Non-Psychology Students.

Abstract Emotional Intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, understand, and regulate one’s own and others’ emotions effectively, while Psychological Well-Being (PWB) reflects an individual’s overall positive functioning, including personal growth, self-acceptance, and purpose in life. The present study was conducted to examine Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Psychological Well-Being (PWB) among Psychology and Non-Psychology students. The sample consisted of 81 Psychology students and 75 non-psychology students, aged 18 to 25 years. Two psychological scales were used: the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale (BEIS-10) and the 18-item Psychological Well-Being Scale. Independent samples t-test and Pearson correlation were employed for statistical analysis. Results indicated that Psychology students scored higher in Emotional Intelligence (M = 69.31) compared to non-psychology students (M = 64.45), and higher in Psychological Well-Being (M = 168.51) compared to non-psychology students (M = 150.28), with both differences significant at p < .001. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between EI and PWB among Psychology students (r = .360) and non-psychology students (r = .461). The findings supported the hypotheses related to group differences in EI and PWB, while the hypothesis concerning the strength of the relationship was partially supported, as the correlation was stronger among non-psychology students than Psychology students. The findings suggest that studying psychology may contribute to higher emotional intelligence and psychological well-being, though the strength of the EI–PWB relationship varies across student groups.