The relationship between emotional intelligence and communication skills in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Population aging has increased interest in psychosocial factors that support healthy aging and social participation. Emotional intelligence is considered a key personal resource that facilitates emotional regulation, social interaction, and communication, yet empirical evidence regarding its role in communication skills among older adults remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to examine the associations between emotional intelligence and communication skills in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 172 older adults aged 61-85 years enrolled in the University of the Third Age at Ege University between September and December 2025. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Communication Skills Scale. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric group comparisons, and Spearman rho correlation analyses were performed. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate-to-high emotional intelligence levels (mean = 104.63 ± 9.59) and generally good communication skills (mean = 105.90 ± 9.14). Emotional intelligence total scores were positively and significantly associated with overall communication skills (ρ = 0.345, Conclusion: Emotional intelligence, particularly optimism, is significantly associated with higher communication skills among socially active older adults. While age-related changes in the use of emotions were observed, the findings suggest that social wisdom may serve as a compensatory mechanism in later life. These results highlight emotional intelligence as a potential psychosocial resource for promoting social engagement and healthy aging, although the cross-sectional nature of the study precludes causal inferences.