The Relationship Between Cognitive and Affective Empathy and Emotional Intelligence in High School Students in Kokand, Uzbekistan: An Innovative Study

Abstract

Empathy, comprising cognitive (understanding others’ emotions) and affective (sharing others’ emotional states) components, is a cornerstone of social functioning and emotional development, particularly during adolescence. Emotional intelligence (EI), defined as the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and utilize emotions effectively (Mayer & Salovey, 1997), is closely linked to empathy and plays a critical role in shaping interpersonal relationships and academic success among high school students (ages 15–18). Kokand, a historic city in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region with a population of approximately 259,700 (2022), is characterized by a blend of traditional collectivist values, Islamic cultural norms, and increasing urbanization, which influence socio-emotional development. Despite global research on empathy and EI, their interplay in the Central Asian context, particularly in urban settings like Kokand with its high birth rate (11.1% in 2024) and significant labor migration (over 10% of the population), remains underexplored.