An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Emotional Intelligence

Objective: Stress levels are a growing health concern, with many negative impacts on mental and physical health, organisations, and health care providers, who are trying to cope with the growing demand for treatment. Extensive studies have found that emotional intelligence may be a protective factor against the negative effects of stress. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and emotional intelligence, and examine the impact that age and gender may have on this relationship. Methodology: 188 participants (118 females, 70 males) completed a 15 minute survey, including the Perceived Stress Scale and the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test. Results: There was a significant negative relationship between stress and emotional intelligence. A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that emotional intelligence explained 13.7% of variance in stress scores, after controlling for age and gender. Discussion: Results from the present study suggest that emotional intelligence can have an impact on perceived stress levels, and may act as a protective factor. Emotional intelligence courses could be implemented to help reduce stress levels. Existing literature, implications of this study, and recommendations for future research are also discussed