Emotional Intelligence and English Reading Comprehension Ability: A Case Study from Iran

The emotional intelligence (EI) construct is a relatively new concept with little empirical research. This study was an attempt to find the relationship between EI, gender, major, and reading comprehension ability of Iranian EFL learners. For this purpose, 268 students completed the Bar-On EQ inventory (1997) which included 133 items and took a reading comprehension test. It was found that females outperformed males in the reading comprehension test. However, no significant relationship was found between gender and major on one hand and reading comprehensions ability on the other hand. Subsequent data analysis revealed that the relationship between four EI scales (interpersonal, stress management, adaptability, and general mood) and reading comprehension ability was significant. However, no significant relationship was found between intrapersonal scale and reading comprehension ability. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between EI subscales and reading comprehension positive except for independence and assertiveness. The implications of the study and suggestions for further research are discussed.