Development and Efficacy Evaluation of EI-web: A Web-Based Emotional Intelligence Program for Young Adults

Young adulthood (18-30 years) is a phase of crucial changes and challenges, which has been associated with both mental health and potential realization in young adults. In order to successfully navigate this phase, individuals have to effectively understand, adapt, and cope with the continuous socio-emotional and practical demands. Emotional Intelligence (EI) with its roots in intrapersonal and interpersonal skill, stress management, and adaptability, equip individuals to effectively meet the personal and environmental demands to prevent and reduce negative outcomes of adversities, as well as enhance the positive outcomes like performance and achievement. Therefore, EI provides a holistic framework towards enhancing youth mental health and wellbeing. The present study aims to develop a web-based EI program (EI-web) and assess its efficacy in improving EI, mental health, and social self efficacy, using a quasi-experimental pre-post study design. The study will also assess the mediating role of individual EI competencies in enhancing EI, mental health, and self efficacy. Finally, the predicting role of digital working alliance (program-user), and user’s expectancy and credibility in the effectiveness of the program will be examined. The study will be conducted in two phases: Phase I: Theory and stakeholder informed development of EI program and its web version; Phase II: Efficacy trial of EI-web. The development phase will involve 10 young adults in one-on-one interviews and/or focus group discussion for need assessment. For RCT, young adults will be screened for severe distress (K-10) and active suicidality (ASQ), and will be excluded when found positive on these criteria. Thirty seven young adults will be recruited for trial. Outcome measures of the study involve Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Social Self Efficacy Scale (SSES), Assertiveness subscale of Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ-A), Peterson Assertiveness Questionnaire (PAQ), Impulse Control subscale of Multidimensional Self-Control Scale (MSCS-IC), Coping Strategy Inventory (CSI). Process measures include Digital Working Alliance Inventory (DWAI) and Credibility-Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ). To determine the statistical significance, repeated measures ANOVA will be used. Cohen’s effect size will be used to calculate the clinical significance. PROCESS Macro will be utilized to test the mediation model(s). Regression will be computed to examine the predictive ability of process variables.