Beatrice KathunguNgatia, Veronica Nyawira2024-03-072024-03-072023-11https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/27722A Research Proposal Submitted to the School of Law, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts (Counseling Psychology) of Kenyatta University, November 2023.Developmental theorists indicate that intimate relationships among undergraduate students in universities serve to fulfill a development task. However, in the recent past, intimate relationships among undergraduate students in universities have been experiencing turbulence, with possible increased negative impact such as mental health challenges, killings and even suicide. The phenomenon raises the need to establish the quality of intimate relationship among undergraduate students in universities. Social emotional intelligence on the other hand, has been found to be crucial in facilitating better management of emotions which could impact intimate relationships. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between social emotional intelligence (SEI) and quality of intimate relationships (QIR) among undergraduate students in universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was guided by social emotional intelligence theory and need to belong theory. The study adopted a correlation design and targeted undergraduate students in universities in Nairobi County. Multi-stage sampling design was adopted, including, proportionate stratified, random, and purposive sampling to get a sample of 399 students and an additional 20% to cater for online non-response rate. Two main tools were used to collect data: Schutte’s Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Additionally, a Social-demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured tool were used to collect data on demographics and strategies to enhance SEI and QIR respectively. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of SPSS version 27. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to establish the relationship between SEI and QIR while simple linear regression was used to find out if and the extent to which the predictor variable can predict response variable. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The findings revealed a statistically significant, strong, and positive correlation between social emotional intelligence and quality of intimate relationship (r (399) =0.83, P< .001). The predictor variable (social emotional intelligence) could also predict 69% of changes in the response variable (quality of intimate relationship. Six major themes that are identified as strategies that can be used to enhance social emotional intelligence to improve quality of intimate relationship. Based on the findings, the study suggested that programs that target undergraduate students in universities should consider incorporating social emotional intelligence for wholesome results. Mental health practitioners should consider social emotional- based counseling when dealing with undergraduate students. University management should consider incorporation of social emotional learning in the curriculum. Honest and open conversations should be encouraged about emotions and how to express the emotions and normalizing conversations and expression of emotions.enSocial Emotional IntelligenceIntimate RelationshipsUndergraduate StudentsUniversities in Nairobi CountyKenyaThesis