The mediating role of emotional intelligence in the impact of perceived social support and psychological resilience on emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the impact of perceived social support and psychological resilience on emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. The research was designed as a descriptive study and conducted using a survey model. The study group consisted of a total of 650 adolescents, 395 of whom were female and 255 were male, enrolled in 9th and 10th grades in TOBB Science High School, Karatay Anatolian High School, İsmet İnönü Vocational Technical Anatolian High School, Prof. Dr. Raşit Küçük Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, and Özel Envar High School in the 2021-2022 academic year under the Kepez District National Education Directorate in Antalya. In this research, data were collected using the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, Psychological Resilience Attitude Skill Scale, Emotional Intelligence Trait Scale - Adolescent Short Form, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Personal Information Form. Data analysis was performed using Independent-Sample t-test, One-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Linear Regression, and Hayes (Process) Analysis. According to the results obtained in the study, it was determined that emotional problems and total difficulty scores of female adolescents were higher than male adolescents; there was a statistically significant difference in emotional problems of adolescents according to school type and family income level; there was a statistically significant difference in behavioral problems and total difficulty scores according to family income level; there was no statistically significant difference in emotional problems, behavioral problems and total difficulty scores according to age, grade level and family status. While it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in friends and special people sub-dimension and total social support perception score according to family income level; it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference in all sub-dimensions and total social support perception score according to gender, age, grade level, school type and family status. Among the psychological resilience scores of adolescents, it was determined that insight and creativity were higher in female adolescents than in male adolescents; there was a statistically significant difference in insight and creativity, humor sub-dimension and total psychological resilience score according to age; while it was determined that psychological resilience increased as the grade level increased in the relationships and values orientation sub-dimension and total psychological resilience score; there was no statistically significant difference in all sub-dimensions and total psychological resilience score according to school type, family income level and family status. It was determined that self-control, emotionality sub-dimension and total score of emotional intelligence were higher in male adolescents than in female adolescents; there was a statistically significant difference in sociability sub-dimension according to school type; there was a statistically significant difference in emotionality sub-dimension and total score of emotional intelligence according to family income level; there was no statistically significant difference in all sub-dimensions and total score of emotional intelligence according to age, grade level and family status. In the study, it was determined that social support and psychological resilience significantly predicted emotional and behavioral problems in a negative direction; emotional intelligence had a full mediating role in the effect of social support perception and psychological resilience on emotional and behavioral problems. According to these results, it is seen that social support, psychological resilience and emotional intelligence are contributing and important variables in explaining emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents.