Emotional Intelligence and Adversity Quotient of Teachers in Sapang Dalaga District, Division of Misamis Occidental

Teachers encounter diverse instructional, interpersonal, and professional challenges that require them to manage emotions and respond constructively to adversity. Emotional Intelligence (EI) encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills, while Adversity Quotient (AQ) reflects how individuals manage difficulties through Control, Ownership, Reach, and Endurance. Examining these constructs provides insight into teachers’ capacities to navigate challenges within their professional environment. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design to determine the levels of EI and AQ and examine their relationship among 103 permanent public elementary school teachers in Sapang Dalaga District, Division of Misamis Occidental, during School Year 2021–2022. Respondents were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were gathered using a researcher-adapted questionnaire based on Goleman’s EI framework and Stoltz’s CORE model of AQ. Mean and standard deviation were used to describe the variables, while Pearson product-moment correlation was used to test their relationship at the 0.05 level of significance. Teachers demonstrated a Very High level of EI, with an overall mean of 3.34. Empathy obtained the highest dimension mean (3.49), while Social Skills had the lowest (3.23). AQ was also Very High across all dimensions, with Reach obtaining the highest mean (3.33) and Ownership the lowest (3.28). The relationship between EI and AQ was negative but not statistically significant (r = −0.146, p = 0.141). The findings indicated that teachers possessed strong emotional competencies and adversity-management capacities; however, EI and AQ appeared to function as distinct characteristics within the study context. The findings supported the need for professional development that sustains existing strengths while strengthening interpersonal and adversity-management competencies.