Emotional Intelligence of Students with Learning Disabilities and Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Many recent studies across the world present a dire lack of research on Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the field of individuals with disabilities. This study could be an academic call to conduct more research on the (EI) of students with disabilities. The purpose of the study is to examine the differences in (EI) between students with learning disabilities (LDs) and students with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One hundred students participated in the study: fifty students with learning disabilities aged six to twelve years and fifty students with intellectual disabilities aged eight to fifteen years. The Emotional Intelligence Picture Scale for Disabled Children (prepared by the researcher) was the standardized scale used to collect data. The results showed that there were differences between students with LDs and students with IDs in the total score and components of Emotional Intelligence. There is a relationship between age and Emotional Intelligence for both students with LDs and students with IDs. The study concluded that there is a need to introduce EI counseling programs to improve the components of EI. It can help students with IDs gain better control over their emotions and teach necessary skills for daily living. The study recommended that it is important to deal with EI over the lifespan of the disabled students to try to introduce counseling programs for the students who have problems in EI. It is useful for inclusion schools in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to implement the EI pictogram scale to identify the level of EI of students with disabilities.