The Effect of Service Learning on the Development of Trait Emotional Intelligence and Adversity Quotient in Youths: An Experimental Study

Hok-Ko Pong () and Paul Lam ()
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Hok-Ko Pong: Faculty of Management and Hospitality, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Paul Lam: Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: This study aims to determine the effect of service learning (SL) on the trait emotional intelligence and adversity quotient of Chinese undergraduate students in Hong Kong. The SL programme lasted six months (at least 80 service hours). In a pre-test–post-test experimental design, students who participated in the SL during that time period were classified as the experimental group ( n = 139; 69 male, 70 female), whereas students who never participated in SL were classified as the comparison group ( n = 133; 66 male, 67 female). Both groups of participants were asked to finish the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and the Adversity Response Profile ® (ARP) before and after the SL programme. The results showed that there were no significant differences in WLEIS and ARP scores (at the pre-test) between the experimental and comparison groups. The results further revealed that students in the experimental group had better improvements in WLEIS and ARP than those in the comparison group after they completed SL. These findings provide valuable insights and implications for incorporating components of SL into interventions for youths to improve their ability to process emotions and overcome adversity.

Keywords: service learning; emotional intelligence; adversity quotient; university students; experiential learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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