The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Depression among Chinese University Students: The Chain Mediating Role of Forgiveness and Psychological Resilience

Abstract

This study aims to explore the implication of emotional intelligence on depression and the mediating role of resilience and forgiveness among Chinese college students. Participants(N=291) were asked to complete the Emotional Intelligence Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, The Forgiveness Scale, and The Flow Centre Depression Scale. The correlation analysis shows a positive correlation between depression and emotional intelligence, psychological resilience, and forgiveness. The chain mediation effect analysis shows that emotional intelligence indirectly affects depression through psychological resilience and forgiveness, psychological resilience and forgiveness play a fully mediating role, and emotional intelligence depends on psychological resilience and forgiveness and helps to reduce depression. Therefore, it is recommended that college students improve emotional intelligence, promote psychological resilience, increase control over emotions as well as learn forgiveness and self-forgiveness, avoid impulsive emotions, reduce depressive episodes, and achieve a reduced risk of suicide.