Exploring the impact of emotional intelligence on university students’ social interaction Ida Merlin, Prabakar S Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2026 Emotional intelligence is not just a theoretical notion but a practical ability that can be used in professional and personal life. This study aimed to use the cross-sectional research design to examine the effect of each dimension of emotional intelligence on the everyday social interaction of university students. The data was collected using the Emotional Intelligence Scale and Social Interaction Questionnaire from 424 University students. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS, and Structural Equation Modeling analysis was carried out using AMOS. The results showed a strong to moderate correlation between the dimensions of emotional intelligence and social interaction. Self-awareness and self-regulation had a negative impact on social interaction, and a positive impact was felt on motivation, social awareness, and social skills in social interaction among the students. The study provides suggestions and development strategies for EI to enhance self-competence among the students.
Development and initial validation of social interaction questionnaire Ida Merlin J, Prabakar S Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2025 This paper presents the findings of the study that was initiated to develop and standardize a measure of Social Interaction (SI). The items were split into five different types of social interaction: exchange, competition, conflict, cooperation and accommodation. The systematic process that was used to construct and validate the tool is delineated in this study. The theoretical foundation for the questionnaire was carried out through a literature review. The item pool was generated with each statement reflecting the different aspects of interaction. Initially, experts in the field of social psychology reviewed the items for content validity and refined the items. The preliminary version of the questionnaire was tested using a pilot study. A larger validation was done with a larger population to confirm the factor structure using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The model fit indices were good for the obtained model (CFI = 0.929, IFI = 0.930, TLI = 0.920, RMSEA = 0.053), confirming that the model structure is robust. The final questionnaire has 26 items with a reliable and valid measure.
Social change: the nexus between emotional intelligence and the theory of change for Buen Vivir Ida Merlin, Jefry Immanuel, Dunstan Rajkumar, Prabakar S Social Work Education, 2025 The present study endeavors to theoretically examine the role of emotional intelligence in social change, specifically within the framework of Buen Vivir—a concept rooted in a holistic approach to the well-being of individuals and communities. It proposes a model for transformative social change grounded in the development of emotional intelligence skills. Although numerous studies focus on emotional intelligence, there is scant research examining Buen Vivir through this lens. Drawing on contemporary literature in the social sciences, this article explores the foundational concepts of emotional intelligence, Buen Vivir, and social change, and outlines a path toward individual and collective transformation. It also attempts to develop a theoretical model that integrates emotional intelligence and the theory of change to achieve ‘Buen Vivir: A Shared Future for Transformative Change,’ the theme of World Social Work Day 2024. The paper concludes by identifying theoretical and empirical gaps, emphasizing the need for further interdisciplinary research and the development of culturally sensitive evaluation tools to operationalize Buen Vivir in practice.
Emotional Intelligence and Social Interaction – A Bibliometric Analysis Ida Merlin J, Prabakar S International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope, 2024 The focus of the present study is to evaluate and review the documents on Emotional Intelligence and Social Interaction published in the Scopus database. The keywords used to obtain the documents are “Emotional Intelligence” and “Social Interaction”. This study performs bibliometric analysis on 284 articles published between the years 2000-2023. It is evident from the findings that publications related to emotional intelligence and social interaction have been steady for the past few years and there is a need in the rise for research in this field as social interaction is the basis for any social outcome. The bibliometric analysis shows that the top cited article with 570 citations is ‘Emotion regulation abilities and the quality of social interaction’. The most influential authors are Green, Michael F. and Horan, William P. The top influential countries are the United States and the United Kingdom and the top sources are the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Personality and Individual Differences. The study provides implications for future researchers based on the literature review and bibliometric analysis carried out and highlights the need for in-depth research on emotional intelligence and “social interaction” from a sociological and socio-psychological perspective.
From self-awareness to social savvy: how intrapersonal skills shape interpersonal competence in university students Ida Merlin J., Prabakar Soubramanian Frontiers in Psychology, 2024 IntroductionThe extant study was conducted over a cross-sectional period and aimed to assess the effect of intrapersonal on the interpersonal dimensions of Emotional Intelligence among University Students.MethodsA literature survey was carried out, and the study’s hypotheses were framed. Utilising a standardised Emotional Intelligence Scale, a widely accepted and validated measurement tool in the field, for measurement, the survey was disseminated in digital and physical formats. The researchers employed the snowball sampling technique to distribute the questionnaires and recruit volunteers for the study. The data collection period spanned from August 2023 through September 2023. The demographic information of the individuals was described using the SPSS 25 software, while the dataset for the personal and social competencies was analysed using the SmartPLS software.Results and discussionThe research reveals a statistically significant association between the variables under investigation. Specifically, there exists a negative correlation between Motivation and Social Skills, as well as between Self-regulation and Social Awareness. These findings open up exciting opportunities for future research, inspiring further exploration into the development of intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies among students.
Trends and patterns: A bibliometric analysis of emotional intelligence and its implications for strategic leadership J. Ida Merlin, S. Prabakar Multidisciplinary Reviews, 2024 The development of publications on emotional intelligence and its impact on strategic leadership from 2013–2023 are the focus of the current study. The number of publications narrowed down by adopting the SALSA method and used in the analysis was 383. It is evident from the analysis that there has been a significant increase in the number of publications addressing emotional intelligence and leadership in the past decade. Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer resulted in the co-occurrence network of 31 items categorized into 8 clusters based on keywords, each highlighted by a different color. The extensive connections that emotional intelligence has with leadership are observed through networks, overlays and visualizations. This analysis helps us understand the current knowledge, identify research gaps, and guide future investigations. It also highlights emerging themes in emotional intelligence and strategic leadership, supporting informed decisions for leadership development and organizational success. The implications derived from enhancing emotional intelligence include improvements in communication, learning, problem- solving, and trust, which ultimately maximize strategic leadership in individuals.
Understanding the Relationship Between Self Referential and Socially Oriented Emotional Intelligence Constructs: A Cross-sectional Study Ida Merlin J, Prabakar S International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope, 2024 This article aims to investigate the influence of self-perception, self-regulation and motivation on the social awareness and social skills of university students. While Emotional Intelligence is a concept extensively researched in psychology with a substantial body of literature, there is limited empirical data connecting the constructs of self to the social constructs in Emotional Intelligence. The research recognizes the significance of understanding how these intrapersonal and interpersonal factors contribute to the development of social competence in the academic environment. A quantitative survey was used to explore the relationship between these. The sample comprised undergraduate students from diverse academic disciplines, and data were collected through validated self-report questionnaires. The findings underscore the importance of integrating targeted interventions and educational strategies that promote the development of these attributes to enhance students' overall social competence. By fostering a greater understanding of these dynamics, universities can better equip their students with the social skills necessary for successful interpersonal interactions, personal growth, and future professional success.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Social change: the nexus between emotional intelligence and the theory of change for Buen Vivir I Merlin, J Immanuel, D Rajkumar, P S Social Work Education, 1-10 , 2025 2025.0
Exploring the impact of emotional intelligence on university students’ social interaction I Merlin, P S Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-12 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
From self-awareness to social savvy: how intrapersonal skills shape interpersonal competence in university students I Merlin J, P Soubramanian Frontiers in Psychology 15, 1469746 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 36
Development and initial validation of social interaction questionnaire I Merlin J, P S Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-14 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Emotional Intelligence and Social Interaction–A Bibliometric Analysis I Merlin, J, S Prabakar International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope 5 (2) , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Understanding the Relationship Between Self Referential and Socially Oriented Emotional Intelligence Constructs: A Cross-sectional Study I Merlin, J, S Prabakar International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope 5 (1), 14-25 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Trends and patterns: A bibliometric analysis of emotional intelligence and its implications for strategic leadership I Merlin, J, S Prabakar Multidisciplinary Reviews 7 (4), 2024063-2024063 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
The Psychological Perspective of Emotional Intelligence: Nurturing Connections and Fostering Success among the Youth I Merlin, J, S Prabakar Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities 6 (9s), 01-09 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 3
A Review-Emotional Intelligence An Important Predictor Of Leadership Potential. A Dunstan Rajkumar, K Nilavathy, I Merlin, J Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry 12 (7) , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 6
A Survey Dataset to Understand the Relationship between the Self and Social Constructs of Emotional Intelligence Among University/College Students I Merlin J Prabakar, A Survey Dataset to Understand the Relationship between the Self … , 0
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
From self-awareness to social savvy: how intrapersonal skills shape interpersonal competence in university students I Merlin J, P Soubramanian Frontiers in Psychology 15, 1469746 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 36
A Review-Emotional Intelligence An Important Predictor Of Leadership Potential. A Dunstan Rajkumar, K Nilavathy, I Merlin, J Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry 12 (7) , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 6
Emotional Intelligence and Social Interaction–A Bibliometric Analysis I Merlin, J, S Prabakar International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope 5 (2) , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Exploring the impact of emotional intelligence on university students’ social interaction I Merlin, P S Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-12 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Development and initial validation of social interaction questionnaire I Merlin J, P S Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-14 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Understanding the Relationship Between Self Referential and Socially Oriented Emotional Intelligence Constructs: A Cross-sectional Study I Merlin, J, S Prabakar International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope 5 (1), 14-25 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Trends and patterns: A bibliometric analysis of emotional intelligence and its implications for strategic leadership I Merlin, J, S Prabakar Multidisciplinary Reviews 7 (4), 2024063-2024063 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
The Psychological Perspective of Emotional Intelligence: Nurturing Connections and Fostering Success among the Youth I Merlin, J, S Prabakar Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities 6 (9s), 01-09 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 3
Social change: the nexus between emotional intelligence and the theory of change for Buen Vivir I Merlin, J Immanuel, D Rajkumar, P S Social Work Education, 1-10 , 2025 2025.0
A Survey Dataset to Understand the Relationship between the Self and Social Constructs of Emotional Intelligence Among University/College Students I Merlin J Prabakar, A Survey Dataset to Understand the Relationship between the Self … , 0
