The Impact of Personality and Emotional Intelligence on Social Anxiety: Insights into Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

The relationship between personality traits, emotional intelligence (EI), and social anxiety is a complex and multifaceted one, particularly in adolescence. Personality traits such as neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness significantly influence the development and expression of emotional intelligence, which in turn impacts how individuals manage emotions and navigate social interactions. This paper explores the ways in which certain personality traits interact with emotional intelligence to either mitigate or exacerbate the effects of social anxiety. While individuals high in neuroticism and introversion may struggle with emotional regulation and selfconfidence, those with high extraversion, conscientiousness, and emotional intelligence tend to better manage social situations and handle stress. The research highlights the protective role of high emotional intelligence in reducing social anxiety, emphasizing the importance of selfregulation and empathy in social interactions. By understanding the interplay between personality and emotional intelligence, this paper underscores the potential for developing emotional intelligence as a means of managing social anxiety and promoting better mental health outcomes in adolescents.