Self esteem, emotional intelligence and happiness among adolescents in secondary schools of Mubende District

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and happiness among adolescents in secondary schools of Mubende District, Uganda, using a cross-sectional correlational design with 215 participants. Data were collected via validated self-report measures (RSES, SSEIT, SHS) and analyzed using correlation, regression, and mediation analyses. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between self- esteem and emotional intelligence (r = .368, p < .001), with self-esteem being a significant predictor (β = .368, p < .001). However, the relationships between self-esteem and happiness (r = .108, p = .113) and emotional intelligence and happiness (r = .123, p = .072) were not statistically significant. Further, emotional intelligence did not mediate the self-esteem-happiness relationship (B = 0.045, 95% CI [-0.019, 0.120]). These findings suggest that while self-esteem is crucial for developing emotional intelligence, other factors likely play a more prominent role in influencing adolescent happiness in this context, highlighting the need for multifaceted well-being interventions in schools.