The role of resilient coping as a mediator between trait emotional intelligence and academic motivation in university students

Introduction

The lack of motivation among university students has become a key challenge in the current European Higher Education Area, reflected in high dropout rates and low academic performance. The aim of this study is to analyze the direct and indirect relationships between emotional intelligence, resilient coping, and academic motivation in university students. These three variables are relevant as they facilitate adaptation to academic and social challenges, enhancing students' performance and overall well-being.

Method

Questionnaires assessing EI, resilient coping, and academic motivation were administered to 693 education students with an average age of 19.65 years (SD = 2.8). Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlation analyses, and mediation models using structural equations were performed.

Results

The results suggest that resilient coping is a partial mediator in the relationship between EI and academic motivation, indicating that students with higher emotional skills tend to employ more effective coping strategies, which reinforces their intrinsic motivation toward learning. On the other hand, resilient coping was a partial mediator in the relationship between emotional repair and academic amotivation.

Conclusions

From a neuroscience perspective, emotional intelligence involves key processes such as self-regulation, attention, and executive control, which are fundamental for learning and academic performance. In this context, the findings of this study highlight the importance of integrating emotional intelligence development into curriculum design, not only to enhance well-being but also to promote resilient coping and strengthen academic motivation.