Emotional intelligence moderating the relationship between resilience and internet addiction: A study among Saudi Arabian and Ghanaian samples

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between resilience and internet addiction among 738 university students in Ghana and Saudi Arabia, aged 20-30 years. The study found a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and resilience and a negative correlation between resilience and internet addiction. Importantly, emotional intelligence was found to significantly moderate the relationship between resilience and internet addiction, accounting for 2.2% of the variance in internet addiction. Specifically, higher levels of emotional intelligence weakened the positive association between resilience and internet addiction. The findings highlight the complex interplay between these factors and suggest that incorporating emotional intelligence training into university curricula could help mitigate internet addiction among students.