New research reveals a strong correlation between parental emotional self-awareness and the ability to teach emotional intelligence to children, but also shows that many parents lack the tools to start with themselves.
A recent MyIQ survey of 1,248 parents across the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union found that 75% believe understanding their own emotional patterns is essential to raising emotionally intelligent children. Yet 62% also admitted they do not have a clear map of how they habitually respond to stress, frustration, or conflict, emotional blind spots that may undermine their intentions.
The survey adds a new layer to the growing public discourse around "emotional education." Rather than treating emotional intelligence as something taught exclusively to children, parents are increasingly recognising that their own emotional competence sets the tone. This two-generation model is gaining momentum: 41% of surveyed parents said existing parenting tools focus on children’s behaviour while neglecting the adults’ own emotional reflexes.
Demographic splits further highlight the divide. Younger parents (ages 25-39) were the most committed to emotional education, with 82% naming it a top parenting priority. However, this group also showed the largest self-awareness gap: 68% said they often lacked clarity on their own emotional patterns. Notably, parents who used structured self-assessment tools, like those offered by MyIQ, expressed greater confidence in applying emotional coaching at home.
In terms of gender differences, the survey found that 78% of mothers saw emotional self-awareness as key to parenting success, compared to 69% of fathers. Fathers, however, were more likely to report overconfidence in their emotional understanding; 34% of male respondents rated their emotional self-awareness as "high," even when their answers indicated gaps in recognising emotional triggers.
Geographically, parents in the UK were the most likely to say they felt "underprepared" for the emotional demands of parenting (58%), compared to 49% in the US and 46% in the EU. Among urban parents, the feeling of emotional unpreparedness rose to 64%, suggesting that environmental stressors may further complicate emotional regulation in fast-paced settings.
Interestingly, only 22% of all respondents said they had ever used a formal tool to evaluate their emotional awareness. Among those who had, 87% reported that it helped them better understand their own communication patterns, and 73% said it improved their ability to manage conflict with children.
The implications extend beyond the home. If consistent emotional environments are shaped by how adults regulate themselves, then interventions for parents may need to start not with advice about child behaviour, but with practical tools for understanding one’s own triggers, reactions, and emotional defaults. As emotional intelligence becomes part of mainstream parenting culture, adult-facing self-awareness frameworks may no longer be optional.
These findings land at a time when parenting narratives are rapidly evolving. Conversations about emotional development, once confined to specialists, are entering the public sphere. MyIQ’s research suggests this shift could be accelerated by making adult self-assessment more accessible, structured, and repeatable. Rather than positioning emotional education as a child-centred project, the data reframes it as a shared developmental path.
About MyIQ:
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
Media Contact:
MyIQ
pr@myiq.com
Sophie de Villiers
PR Manager
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
Media Contact:
MyIQ
pr@myiq.com
Sophie de Villiers
PR Manager