Genetic Associations with Emotional Intelligence and Resilience: A Gender-Focused Systematic Review

Background: Emotional Intelligence (EI) and psychological resilience are essential to mental health, social functioning and dealing with stress. Emerging research suggests that polymorphic genes might contribute to variation in these traits, with biological sex doing some moderating. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Detailed searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO and were further complemented by manual searches in trial registers. Eligible studies included those that examined genetic polymorphisms linked to EI or resilience. Results: The systematic search yielded a limited number of studies (n = 6) that met full inclusion criteria and conducted primary genetic analysis. Among these, polymorphisms in genes such as 5-HTTLPR, BDNF Val66Met and COMT Val158Met were investigated. Evidence suggested gender-specific patterns, with associations between certain alleles and facets of EI being more frequently reported in female cohorts. However, the total pooled sample size was small (n = 1,248) and the literature was heterogeneous in design and measurement. Conclusion: Biological sex may moderate some reported genetic associations but the evidence base is far too limited and preliminary to inform clinical practice or personalized interventions. This review highlights the scarcity of high-quality, sex-stratified genetic research on these traits and underscores the need for larger, well-powered and methodologically rigorous studies.