Impact of emotional intelligence on students stress at university level

Abstract

Present study was intended to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence on students stress at university level. The major objectives of the study were to measure the emotional intelligence of private and public sector university students, to measure the stress among private and public sector university students, to measure the attitude of the public and private sector university students, to explore the relationship of emotional intelligence, stress and studentsˈ attitude in the context of private and public sector university students. For the determination of psychometric properties pilot testing was carried out on a sample of 150 university students. Data was collected by using three research instruments, for the measurement of Emotional Intelligence Goleman's Mixed Model of Emotional Intelligence was used(1995). A questionnaire consisted of 24 items and four sub-scales as Self-awareness, Teamwork, Interpersonal Relations and Social Skills was developed. For the measurement of studentsˈ stress a research questionnaire was developed by using Selye's Studentsˈ Stress Model (1976), it was comprised of 37 items having 7 sub-scales such as Academic Stress, Self-Inflicted Stress, Test Stress, Time Management Stress, Peers Stress, Social Life Stress and Studying Group Stress. For the measurement of studentsˈ attitude a research questionnaire was developed by using Fazio's MODE Model of attitude (1990), it was consisted of 20 items having 3 sub-scales as, Motivation, Empathy and Self-control. After pilot testing main study was carried out and data was gathered through stratified random sampling technique. Sample comprised of 504 university students among them were 214 male and 290 female respondents of 130 from Management Sciences, 128 from Natural Sciences, 126 from Social Sciences and 120 from Humanities departments of 12 public and private sector universities situated in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Data was analyzed by using statistical techniques such as correlation; inter scale correlations, percentile ranking, analysis of variance, Regression. The results indicated that students differ in terms of emotional intelligence, stress and attitude. Results showed that male university students experience higher level of emotional intelligence and positive attitude, while female university students have higher level of stress. Students of public sector universities have higher emotional intelligence whereas, private sector university students have higher stress. Students of public sector universities exhibits more positive attitude than students of private sector universities. It is suggested that teachers ought to use appropriate strategies in order to decrease the stress from students' life and teach them coping ability to manage stress effectively. It is also recommended that university students may teach to enhance emotional intelligence, self control and positive attitude towards life so they able to manage stress effectively.