Emotional intelligence and video game dependence in urban adolescents

Abstract

Emotional intelligence is defined as a person's ability to understand his or her emotions and those of others, whereas video game dependence is a non-chemical addiction that derives from potentially addictive behavior. The main objective of this research is to determine the correlation between emotional intelligence and video game dependence in adolescents. This is a quantitative, descriptive, correlational, non-experimental and cross-sectional study. To measure the variables, the TMMS-24 scale and the Video Game Dependence Test were applied to 110 Ecuadorian adolescents between 13 and 18 years of age. The results showed no significant correlation between the main variables, although a low negative correlation was observed between video game dependence and feeling attention (Rho(108) =-0.024 p<0.05). In addition, 62.7% of the participants presented low levels of video game dependence. Significant statistical differences were found, between the emotional intelligence scores in relation to gender, since, the mean scores of the male gender are (M=24.6) and female gender is (M=21.4) in clarity of emotions (T(108)=-2.632 p<0.05) while in attention and repair of emotions no statistical difference of the mean was found in terms of gender.