The relationship between emotional intelligence and communication skills in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Population aging has increased interest in psychosocial factors that support healthy aging and social participation. Emotional intelligence is considered a key personal resource that facilitates emotional regulation, social interaction, and communication, yet empirical evidence regarding its role in communication skills among older adults remains limited.

This study aimed to examine the associations between emotional intelligence and communication skills in older adults.

This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 172 older adults aged 61-85 years enrolled in the University of the Third Age at Ege University between September and December 2025. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Communication Skills Scale. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric group comparisons, and Spearman rho correlation analyses were performed.

Participants demonstrated moderate-to-high emotional intelligence levels (mean = 104.63 ± 9.59) and generally good communication skills (mean = 105.90 ± 9.14). Emotional intelligence total scores were positively and significantly associated with overall communication skills (ρ = 0.345, p < 0.01). Among emotional intelligence dimensions, optimism showed the strongest and most consistent correlations with all communication skill subdomains (ρ = 0.487, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that emotional intelligence was a significant predictor of communication skills (β= 0.328, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, gender, education, and health status. Age was negatively associated with the use of emotions dimension but positively associated with communication principles, suggesting a compensatory role of experience-based social norms in later life.

Emotional intelligence, particularly optimism, is significantly associated with higher communication skills among socially active older adults. While age-related changes in the use of emotions were observed, the findings suggest that social wisdom may serve as a compensatory mechanism in later life. These results highlight emotional intelligence as a potential psychosocial resource for promoting social engagement and healthy aging, although the cross-sectional nature of the study precludes causal inferences.