A relationship between Emotional intelligence and perceived parenting styles among undergraduate in Delhi University, India

IntroductionEmotional Intelligence makes a major contribution and important factor in mental health. Parenting plays a pivotal role in training emotional intelligence because parents are responsible for the overall development of child. Not many studies have been done to find the association between emotional intelligence and parenting style. The objective of the study was to find the level of emotional intelligence in college students and if there is an association with perceived parenting style whether gender was as an effect modifier on the relationship between emotional intelligence and parenting style among young adults. MethodsThe study was conducted as a cross sectional study among college students in the age group of 18 to 24years. The study revealed that majority of the participants reported their parents parenting style as authoritative, followed by authoritarian. ResultThe proportion of authoritative father was 36% and authoritative mother was 37%. In this study the parenting style of mother was authoritative for both genders. The study results showed maternal authoritarian style (OR=0.3; 95%CI: 0.1, 0.5) and permissive style (OR=0.2; 95% CI: 0.2, 1.2) was negatively associated with high emotional quotient when compared to authoritative parenting style. Gender was an effect modifier in relationship between emotional intelligence and parenting style of father. ConclusionEmotional intelligence can be learned and modified and parents play a crucial rule in emotional development of child. They should acknowledge the developmental needs of child, listens to them, give them freedom and independence and also hold them accountable for their mistakes and behavior.