Chinese parents place more value on children's EQ, survey finds

More Chinese parents think emotional quotient is important for their children than a decade ago, according to a survey conducted by Shanghai's East China Normal University and People Impact, a Hong Kong-based intelligence training institute.

The survey showed 78 percent of the 800 respondents in east and south China said cultivating EQ and soft skills in communication, self-esteem and leadership is more important than developing their children's IQ, or intelligence quotient.

"We didn't expect such a high proportion of parents to favor EQ skills over IQ," said Chen Guopeng, a professor of the university's department of psychology and cognitive science who led the survey.

The survey showed parents in the age group of 40 to 50 years old paid more attention to children's EQ than younger parents. Mothers value a children's EQ more than fathers, and parents with high education backgrounds care more about EQ.

To parents, children who have a high EQ know how to communicate well, can control their emotions, possess high self-esteem and are optimistic. But in reality, many Chinese children are self-centered, moody and rebellious, which will affect their intelligence development, said Nick Shiah, CEO of China mainland at People Impact.

"As more Chinese families are allowed to have two children under the new family planning policy, parents need to care more about children's feelings and help them become high EQ people, which is crucial for their success and happiness in the future," said Shiah.