University students' emotional intelligence and romantic relationship satisfaction and their percepti̇on about partners' relationship satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to investigate university students' satisfaction and their perception about their partners' satisfaction in romantic relationship with regard to emotional intelligence. Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, Hendrick Relationship Satisfaction Scale and Demographic Information Form were used to gather data. Interview was also used to understand university student's perception about their partners' satisfaction in romantic relationship. 546 university students participated in the study, 274 of them were at Çukurova University, 272 of them were at Mersin University; 282 of them were at 4th grade and 264 of them were at 3rd grade. Participating students completed the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale. 410 students who have romantic relationship also filled the Hendrick Relationship Satisfaction Scale; 261 of them were women and 149 of them were men. Ten heterosexual couples were interviewed; 6 couples were from Çukurova University, and 4 couples were from Mersin University. SPSS for Mac 20.0 was used to analyze data to examine relationships or differences among variables. Qualitative data derived from the interview were analyzed by using the content analysis. Results showed that emotional intelligence has predicted romantic relationship satisfaction. Accordingly, individuals with high levels of emotional intelligent have also high romantic relationship satisfaction. The level of emotional intelligent and romantic relationship satisfaction were not different according to gender. There was a low and positive but meaningful relationship between age and emotional intelligence and age and romantic relationship satisfaction. Emotional intelligence level of students who have romantic partner was higher than those of students who do not have a romantic partner. Students with high emotional intelligence level were more likely to estimate their partner's feelings and ideas about their relationship. These students' partners' relationship satisfaction was higher than those who did not have similar perception about their partner's feelings. The results support that students' perceptions about their partner's ideas with low or high estimation level did not necessarily affect the relationship satisfaction. It can be said that romantic relationship satisfaction of students with high emotional intelligent was higher and a person's emotional intelligence had a role in recognizing their own romantic relationship satisfaction. The results showed that students with high emotional intelligent were more likely to estimate their partners' romantic relationship satisfaction than students with low emotional intelligent. Key words: Emotional intelligence, romantic relationship, romantic relationship satisfaction, university students.