Cultivating Emotional Intelligence: The Impact of Engaging in Expressive Arts for Higher Education Students.

Emotional intelligence (EI) stands as a crucial factor in promoting mental well-being, and the malleability of intelligence opens avenues for diverse educational interventions. This paper delves into the transformative potential of expressive arts in augmenting EI among higher education students. The study focused on the social work department of a college in Kerala, India, where 164 students were randomly selected from the total departmental enrollment. Among these, 122 actively engaged in expressive arts, while 42 did not participate in such activities. To gauge EI levels, the study employed Schutt's Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, comparing scores between students engaged in expressive arts and those who were not. The statistical analysis utilized an independent sample t-test, revealing a significant difference in EI measures between the two groups. These findings underscore the impactful role of expressive arts in cultivating emotional intelligence. Based on these outcomes, this paper advocates for the integration of expressive arts into higher education curricula. Such inclusion is proposed not only to foster elevated emotional intelligence but also to fortify students' mental health and enhance academic performance. The study suggests that incorporating expressive arts can contribute substantially to the holistic development of students in higher education settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]