Emotional intelligence is important at all stages of life and enables the development of skills that allow success in the ageing process with greater quality of life, well-being, and satisfaction. To correlate emotional intelligence (dimensions and global) with sociodemographic and psychosocial variables in elderly people. Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study with a sample of 157 elderly people, with an average age of 74.14 years, who attended senior universities in the centre of Portugal. A questionnaire was applied sociodemographic characterization, the Scale Satisfaction with Life, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 30) and the Emotional Intelligence Measurement Scale. Majority of older people are aged between 65 and 74, female. They had high life satisfaction and no depression. Of the sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, only area of residence, socializing with children and its importance, and depressive state showed a significant effect on emotional intelligence. Elderly people who have high emotional intelligence have a university degree, live in urban areas, socialize with children, attach a lot of importance to it and are not depressed. The results show that social relationships are an important aspect of maintaining social skills. Senior universities enhance these relationships, contributing to the improvement of emotions and consequently to healthier ageing.