The effect of emotional intelligent development program on the level of emotional intelligent and life satisfaction of adolescent: An experi̇mental study

The purpose of this study was to examine/investigate the effect of Emotional Intelligent Development Program on the level of adolescents' emotional intelligent and life satisfaction level. This study was designed a mixed method study in which a quasi-experimental study and qualitative research methods were used. The participants of the study were 10th and 11th high school students. Children and Adolescent Form of Bar-on Emotional Intelligent Scale, Multiple Dimensions Life Satisfaction Scale for Students, Personal Information Form and a Semi-structured interview form were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The scales were applied to 346 students and experimental study was conducted with 48 students. A 10 session emotional intelligent development program was prepared and after completing a pilot study actual study was carried out. SPSS 22 program was used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis method. Result show that emotional intelligent development program enhanced significantly the level of adolescents' emotional intelligent level and this effect was also permanent upon completing the follow up examination. However, the program had no significant effect on the level of students' life satisfaction. The findings of qualitative study showed that adolescents who have high level of emotional intelligence mostly feel happy and pleasant with especially close friends and family members while they feel unhappy when they have problems with school courses and when they failed. Additionally, students participating the program reported that the program was positive and had an enhancing effect. Key words: Emotional intelligent, life satisfaction, adolescent, high school students, experimental study.