EXPLORING THE LEVELS OF CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AMONG ASIAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence have gained substantial attention as integral components of the intercultural adaptation process. Despite their significance, there exists a research gap in examining the specific levels of these competencies within homogeneous cohorts of international students. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to address this gap by assessing the levels of cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence among Asian international students enrolled in Chinese universities and their associated with sociodemographic variables. The study comprised 228 student participants. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring their cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence. The findings reveal that a significant proportion of Asian international students exhibit moderate to high levels of both cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence. Additionally, the research highlights a positive correlation between cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence. Among sociodemographic variables, prior travel experiences and international students’ friendships with local students displayed significant relationships with their cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence. However, gender, age, and educational level were not significantly related to cultural and emotional intelligence competencies. The study might offer valuable insights into the extensive body of cross-cultural literature on international students and can also serve as a practical guide for university communities seeking to implement measures that enhance the cultural and emotional intelligence of international students.