Undergraduate student, especially first-year students face challenges in the new found academic environment. Critical thinking (CT) has been found to be effective in managing negative experiences. Earlier literature found Emotional intelligence (EI) is accounted for variance in critical thinking (CT) skill irrespective of the gender. However, there is scarcity of research on the relationship between EI and CT disposition with respect to gender. The present research intended to study the effect of EI on CT disposition of students in the transition phase with gender as a moderator. 500 first-year undergraduate students from West Bengal (eastern part of India) were selected to fill up assessment tools; the Profile of Emotional Competence (Brasseur et al., 2013) and Critical Thinking Disposition Assessment (Ricketts & Rudd, 2005). Structural Equation Model (SEM) was followed using AMOS adopting maximum likelihood approach. Path analysis revealed an accepted model fit establishing EI to have significant effect on CT disposition. However, this effect was not moderated by gender. The present research might be helpful in generating awareness regarding the importance of EI and training for developing disposition of CT among college fresher's well-being and emotional health. The study has highlighted the non-significant moderating role of gender in relation to EI and CT disposition that was missing in the existing literature.

Resilience is of utmost importance for first-year undergraduate students to persist and flourish throughout the course of their studies. The researchers explored the comparative and simultaneous effect of two factors, i.e., emotional intelligence (EI) and critical thinking (CT) disposition in predicting the resilience of first-year undergraduate students. A total of 490 participants from the state of West Bengal (eastern part of India) filled out a self-report questionnaire comprising the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, a profile for emotional competency, and CT disposition assessment (EMI). Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis reported that resilience was positively correlated with EI and CT disposition. Further, both EI and CT disposition had unique as well as shared contributions in explaining resilience and the outcome was in favor of EI being the stronger predictor. The study suggests that college authorities and counselors should undertake efficacious support initiatives to foster resilience in students.

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