Abstract: Using communication anxiety scale （IAS） and emotional intelligence scale （EIS）, 520 college students from rural areas were investigated by questionnaire to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence and social anxiety. The results of the survey showed that the emotional intelligence of rural college students developed well on the whole, and some of them had prominent social anxiety. Rural college students could reduce the level of social anxiety by cultivating their ability of self-emotional management.

Key words: rural college students, social anxiety, emotional intelligence