Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence among Inmates of Orphanages: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence are the two psychological faculties that are closely related, both neurobiologically and conceptually and has significant influence in life outcome. Children living in orphanages are a group of unprivileged children with insufficient opportunities for both physical and psychological developments. Aim: To find out the intelligence, emotional intelligence and relationship between them among inmates of orphanages. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study which included 100 children living in orphanages. Personal data sheet developed by the investigator, Binet Kamat test of intelligence and Mangal Emotional Intelligence Inventory were the tools used for the study. Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank-order correlation was the statistical tests used. Results: The study subjects consisted of 58 girls and 42 boys. The mean score of intelligence in girls was 100.40 and the mean score of intelligence in boys was 99.12. The mean score emotional intelligence in girls was 61.45 and the mean score in boys was 59.95. No significant difference was found between girls and boys in intelligence and emotional intelligence. A positive correlation was found between intelligence and all the sub-scores and total score of emotional intelligence. Conclusion: Both nature and nurture are important in the development of psychological faculties like intelligence and emotional intelligence. There should be policies and programmes that focus on enhancing the intelligence and emotional intelligence of the underprivileged children living in child care institutions which in turn can decrease the deviant behaviours and increase the positive life outcomes.