The effect of teaching emotional intelligence skills on response to educational stress in high school girls

Document Type : Original Quantitative and Qualitative Research Paper

Authors

1 Instructor of nursing, Department of community health nursing, School of nursing and midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Ms in community health nursing, School of nursing and midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Evidence Based Care Research Centre, Instructor of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Assistant professor in developmental psychology, Departments of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: Stress is one of the major causes of physical and mental illnesses, which could interfere with individual's functions. Emotional intelligence skill is one of the controlling skills of stress and its negative consequences.
Aim: To investigate the effect of teaching emotional intelligence skills on response to educational stress in high school girls.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 100 students of Mashhad high schools, who were randomly assigned in two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a six-session teaching program on emotional intelligence, while control group received no intervention. Gadzella Student-Life Stress Inventory was used as a study tool. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5 using independent t-test and paired t-test.
Results: Both groups experienced changes in physiological  response to stress as the mean score of stress decreased in experimental group and increased in control group (p <0.001). Mean score of emotional intelligence in response to educational stress decreased significantly in both groups, but the independent t-test showed that the experimental group had a significant decline (p <0.001). Mean scores of behavioral and cognitive responses decreased after intervention in experimental group (p <0.001). Mean score of Overall response to stress decreased after intervention in experimental group as well (p <0.003).
Conclusion: Offering courses on emotional intelligence in schools can be effective in reducing the consequences of educational stress.

Keywords


  1.  Hoveyzavy z, Enayati MD. Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Training on Methods to Deal with Stress among High School Students in Ahwaz. New Findings in the Journal of Psychology 1389;5(14): 95-109. (Persian)
  2. Khalilian AR, Ramezanzadeh H, Zarghami, M. The Relationship between School Stressors and Physical Symptoms in 78-79 Academic Year, Students in the City of Sari. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 1379; 10 (25): 56-62. (Persian)
  3. Shahni Y, Maktab GH, Shokrkon H, Haghighi J, Kianpour F. Effect of Training on Emotional Intelligence, Social Anxiety, Social and Emotional Adjustment of Male and Female Students. Psychological Gains Martyr Chamran University Journal 1388; 16(4): 3-26. (Persian)
  4. Hains A.A. A Stress Inculcation Training Program for Adolescents in a High School Setting: a Multiple Baseline Approach. Journal of Adolescence 1992; 15: 163-75.
  5. Shirbim Z, Sudani M, Shafi Abadi A. Effectiveness in Rreducing Somatic Symptoms of Anxiety and Stress Management Skills of Students. Journal of Social and Psychological Study of Women 1388; 7 (3): 139-63. (Persian)
  6. Esonloo Z, Poormohammadrzay Tajrishi M. Mh Server. The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Reducing Symptoms of Stress Management Training Educable Mentally Rretarded Children. Assnayy Iranian Journal of Pediatrics 1390; 11 (2):151-62. (Persian)
  7. Nourian Kh, Gasparyan Kh, Zoladl M, Moghimi M, Hosseini N. Impact Component of Emotional Intelligence Training Program on Stress and Anxiety for Doctors and Nurses Working in Intensive Care units. Medical science Research Journal 1390; 16 (5): 472-9. (Persian)
  8. Khodayarifard M. Parand A 1386. Stress and Coping with it. Tehran: Tehran University.
  9. Afrasiabi M, Akbarzadeh N. Comparison of coping strategies in normal and delinquent adolescents in Tehran. Journal of Psychological Studies Alzahra University School of Educational Sciences and Psychology 1386; 3 (1): 7-20. (Persian)
  10. Sepehreyan F. The Effect of Emotional Intelligence Training on How to Deal with Stress in the Juvenile Urmia City. Journal of Psychology, Tabriz University 1386; 2 (8):70-84. (Persian)
  11. Ciyaroochi J, Forkas JP, Meyer JD 2003. Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life: Further Inquiry Showed scientifically. Interpreter Does Najafi, J. 1385. Tehran: Sokhan.
  12. Fata L, Mootabi F, Shakiba Sh. Components of Emotional Intelligence - Social as Predictors of Mental Health. Psychological Studies, School of Education and Psychology Zahra 2009; 4 (2);102-4. (Persian)
  13. Salarifar MH, Farid Ali, H. Enamel. Components of Emotional Intelligence in Public Health Education Teachers. Journal of Applied Psychology 2009; 2 (2 and 3):580-91. (Persian)
  14. Hassanzadeh R, Sadat Kiyadehi SM 1388. Emotional (Feeling Emotion Management and Effect). Tehran: Mental.
  15. Esmaeili M, Ahadi H, Delavari A, Shafiabadi A. The Effect of Education on Mental Health Components of Emotional Intelligence. Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology 1386; 13 (2):158-65. (Persian)
  16. Mikolajczak M, Luminet O. Trait Emotional Intelligence and the Cognitive Appraisal of Stressful Events: An Exploratory Study. Personality and Individual Differences 2008; 44: 1445–53.
  17. Keogh E, W. Bond F, E. Flaxman P.  Improving Academic Performance and Mental Health through a Stress Management Intervention: Outcomes and Mediators of Change. Behavior Research and Therapy 2006; 44: 339–57.
  18. Aaranda DR, Castillo R, Salguero J, Cabello R, Berrocal PB, Balluerka N. Short- and Midterm Effects of Emotional Intelligence Training on Adolescent Mental Health. Journal of Adolescent Health 2012:1-6.
  19. Haj Amin Z, Ajali A, Fathi Ashtiani A, Ebadi A, Dibani M, Delkhosh M. The Impact of Life Skills Education on Adolescent Emotional Reactions. Journal of Behavioral Sciences 1387; 2 (3):263-9.
  20. Aftekharsaadi Z, Mehrabi zadeh honarmand M, Najjarian B, Ahadi H , Askari P. Effect of Reduced Aggression and Increased Emotional Intelligence Training on Personal Adjustment – Social  In the Second Year of Secondary School Girls in Ahvaz City. New Findings in Psychology 1388:137-49. (Persian)
  21. Tahoor Ahmadi Soltani M, Ramezani VA, Abdollahi M, Najafi M, Rabiee M. Effectiveness of the Disclosure of Emotional Intelligence (Verbal and Written) on the Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress. Journal of Clinical Psychology 1389; 2 (4):51-9. (Persian)
  22. Saiful Bahri Yusoff, M. Stress, Stressors and Coping Strategies among Secondary School Students in a Malaysian Government Secondary School.  Initial Findings ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 11(2):1-15.
  23. Qasemzadehasl S, Peyvastehgr M, Hosseinian S, Mootabi F, Banihashemi S. Intervention Effectiveness of Cognitive - Behavioral and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies on Coping Responses in Women. Journal of Behavioral Sciences 1389; 4 (1):35-43. (Persian)