The role of emotional intelligence in promoting popularity among pre-adolescents

This study aims to explore the association between self-reported emotional intelligence on the one hand and sociometric and perceived popularity on the other hand. Participants were 540 middle school students (286 girls and 254 boys, mean age = 12 years and seven months, standard deviation = one year and three months). Hierarchical regression analyses suggest that self-perception about recognizing others' emotions is positively related to both forms of popularity (with the exception of male perceived popularity). However, this relation is mediated by prosocial behaviors. Unexpectedly, self-perception of the ability to evaluate own emotions was negatively related to male sociometric popularity and female perceived popularity. Testing of hypotheses and implications for future research are discussed.