INFLUENCE OF OPTIMISM, SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONCEPT ON SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE AMONG UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES

Abstract

The study examined influence of optimism, self-esteem and self-concept on social intelligence. Participants were Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) students, with mean-age 24.5 years sampled through cluster and incidental sampling methods. Instruments were Optimism/Pessimism Scale, Adolescents Self-Efficacy Scale, Self-Concept Scale, and Social Intelligence Scale. The design was predictive design. Findings showed: Optimism had no significant influence on social intelligence (1, 95) = 0.003, p>0.05, β = -0.006, t = -0.057; self-esteem had significant influence on social intelligence F(1, 95) = 4.040, p<0.05, β = 0.202, t = 2.010, R2 = 0.041; and self-concept had no significant influence on social intelligence F(1, 95) = 1.914; p>.05; β = .141; t = 1.383. Recommendations were for university undergraduates to improve their social intelligence by bolstering optimism and self-concept.