Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Gender Role Attitudes of Married Individuals: Gender and Work Status in Perspective

Abstract

Aim of the Study: The current study examined the association of gender role attitudes and emotional intelligence of married individuals.  The second objective of this study was to assess the role of work status and gender as moderators for predicting the relationship of gender role attitudes with emotional intelligence of married individuals.

Methodology: A sample of married working men and women (N = 500), both working, and housewives was selected. Purposive and convenient sampling technique was used for data collection. Indigenous versions of perceived emotional intelligence and gender role attitudes measures were used to collect the data. The results of alpha coefficients for the scales and its subscales indicated satisfactory reliability levels as evidence for the stability of scores. Assessment of correlation coefficients exhibited significant positive relationship of emotional intelligence with gender role attitudes, which projected that higher self-perceived emotional intelligence resulted higher egalitarian gender role attitudes.

Findings: Correlation analysis suggested that emotional self-regulation, emotional self-awareness, and interpersonal skills as sub facets of emotional intelligence were found positively correlated with gender role attitudes. Independent moderation models were tested to explore the effect of gender and work status as moderator. These results indicated that moderation effect was significant for women than men, while across work status, it was found that moderation effect was significant for housewives and married working women than married working men into the positive direction.

Conclusion: To conclude this empirical evidence are vital contributions drawn from the collectivistic and traditional socio-cultural context of Pakistan.