The relationship between adolescent emotional intelligence and family system boundaries: Analysis and research prospects

Abstract

Contemporary psychological and pedagogical discourse emphasizes the need to investigate the influence of the family system on personality development, particularly regarding adolescent emotional intelligence and the psychological literacy of parents. Family boundaries, a key parameter of the family system, play an important role in the development of adolescent emotional intelligence. An analysis of existing research (Yu. V. Davydova, L. N. Vakhrusheva, Yu. A. Kochetova) shows that, despite the diversity of approaches, the family influence on emotional intelligence remains understudied. The study aims to establish the relationship between adolescent emotional intelligence and the characteristics of family system boundaries. Methods. The study sample consisted of 57 Russian adolescents aged 12 to 18. The cohort included 61% younger adolescents (12–13 years); 21% middle adolescents (14–15); and 18% older adolescents (16–18 years). In total, 44% of participants were boys and 56% were girls. Results. The analysis showed that the distribution of emotional intelligence levels in adolescents was as follows: low (12%), average (70%), and high (18%). A negative correlation was found between the ‘family boundaries’ parameter, as reported by parents, and both overall adolescent emotional intelligence (r = -0.378, p<0.01) and its constituent branches: emotion recognition (r = -0.260, p = 0.01), emotion understanding (r = -0.328, p<0.01), emotion use (r = -0.227, p<0.05), and emotion management (r = -0.308, p<0.01). A negative correlation was identified between adolescent emotion recognition and parental skills for forming healthy inter-system boundaries (r = -0.252, p<0.01). Conclusion. These findings can be applied to enhance the efficacy of psychological interventions aimed at parents of adolescents, with the goal of optimizing family system functioning.