IMPACT OF TEENAGERS’ INTERNET INVOLVEMENT ON THEIR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Abstract

Modern teenagers are the fi rst generation whose adolescence is directly linked to digital technology. The question of whether high Internet activity has an impact on psychological and emotional development is actively discussed among doctors, psychologists, and educators. Emotional intelligence is linked to adolescent adaptation, psychological well-being, and academic achievement. It has been found that teenagers with high levels of emotional intelligence demonstrate more productive coping styles, and the ability to understand and manage their emotions is a basic soft skill. The goal of the study was to identify the relationship between the level of emotional intelligence development and Internet involvement among teenagers. The methods used were a questionnaire to determine the adolescent’s Internet activity and the fi rst subtest of Guilford’s Test on Social Intelligence. The sample consisted of  teenagers from th to th grades from different regions of the Republic of Karelia. The results indicate a relationship between the level of emotional intelligence development in teenagers and their Internet involvement. It was found that the higher the child’s Internet involvement is, the lower their emotional intelligence is. The data obtained during the study suggest that to optimize work with teenagers, it is necessary to understand that online interaction with them is currently the most effective format. This is why it is important to develop programs for the development of emotional intelligence for teenagers using the Internet. The research described in this publication was made possible in part by R&D Support Program for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researcher of PetrSU, funded by the Government of the Republic of Karelia.