College Student Mental Health: The Relationship Between Depression and Emotional Intelligence Using the Student Relationships Assessment

The purpose for conducting this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional relational intelligence (ERQ) and depression in college students. The significance of this study is based on the additional support that can be provided to students with increased information and understanding of emotional relational intelligence and depression. In an effort to help college students achieve their educational goals and aspirations, the researcher suggests that emotional relational intelligence can be beneficial. The relationship between depression and emotional relational intelligence may provide insight on how to support and care for college students who are struggling with depressive symptomology. The results of the study indicate a statistically significant negative moderate correlation between emotional relational intelligence and depression in the population of students who completed the Student Relationships Assessment in fall 2009 and fall 2010; a statistically significant negative moderate correlation between emotional management and depression in the population of students who completed the Student Relationships Assessment in fall 2009 and fall 2010; and statistically significant negative, yet weak, correlation between emotion perception and depression in the population of students who completed the Student Relationships Assessment in fall 2009 and fall 2010. Furthermore, the study indicated that there was a significant statistical difference between the depression scores of males and females in the population of students who completed the Student Relationships Assessment in fall 2009 and fall 2010. There was no statistical difference between the emotional relational intelligence scores of males and females in the population of students who completed the Student Relationships Assessment in fall 2009 and fall 2010