Emotional Intelligence Levels of Students with Sensory Impairment

Abstract

This study aimed at revealing the emotional intelligence levels of students with sensory disability in Amman in Jordan. The participants of the study were 200 students; 140 hearing impaired students and 60 visual impaired students enrolled in the special education schools and centers for the academic year 2016-2017. The study adopted the descriptive Approach. To achieve the goals of the study, the researchers prepared an emotional intelligence scale consisted of 30 items distributed into four fields: emotional knowledge, emotion regulation, empathy, and social efficiency. The scale’s reliability and validity were verified. Results showed that the total degree of the emotional intelligence of the students with hearing impairment was low and it was moderate for the students with visual impairment. Additionally, results revealed statistical significant differences between the students with hearing impairment and students with visual impairment in all the fields in favor of the students with visual impairment.The study confirmed the necessity to encourage people with sensory disabilities to take part in well-prepared activities and programs that allow them to express their emotions freely as drawing, acting, music and others to develop their emotional intelligence.