Abstract

The paper examined the relationship between emotional intelligence and selfdiscipline of students in Federal Unity Colleges in North Central Nigeria. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. The correlation design was used for the study. From the population of 23,524; a sample of 480 respondents comprising of 427 college students and 53 college counsellors was drawn using the multi-stage sampling technique. Two instruments, namely; Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and a self-development Psychological Adjustment Scale (PAS) were used for data collection. Validation and reliability tests were done on the self-developed instrument with the overall Cronbach alpha coefficient of .91. Mean ratings and Standard Deviations were used in answering the research question and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients (PPMC) was used to test the hypothesis at 05 level of significance. The finding revealed that there is low positive relationship between emotional intelligence and self-discipline of students in Federal Unity Colleges, North Central Nigeria. The study recommended that counsellors should help students to upgrade their emotional intelligence so as to reduce students’ disciplinary issues in schools and Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) should include emotional intelligence skills training in all their conferences so as to upgrade counsellors’ emotional intelligence for the overall good of the students.