Emotional Intelligence as a Healthy Trained Coping Mechanism for Recovery and Empowerment in SARS – COVID – 19 Stress

Abstract

The aim of the current  article is to explore the Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a coping mechanism and training competence  in the management of SARS Covid-19 pandemic stress in Albanian students.

The design of the current study is a quantitative and correlational methodology. We administered online the  Mayer – Salovey – Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and The Scale of  Impact of Stressful (Albanian version) for SARS-Covid-19,  that was standardized by the authors. Data were analyzed by SPSS v.26 and interpreted by Pearson correlation coefficient and  t-test.

The sample of respondents were 300 University students in 5 State Universities of Albania: University of Tirana in Tirana, Aleksandër Xhuvani University in Elbasan, Aleksandër Moisiu University in Durrës, Luigj Gurakuqi University of Shkodra, Agricultural University of Tirana and Ismail Qemali University of Vlora. The sample was random, ranged  between 19-25 years. 189 of the respondents were female (60%) and were 133 male (40%).

The results showed an inverse correlation between  pandemic stress symptoms and self-awareness (r = -.765, p < 0.01), pandemic stress symptoms and empathy (r = -.875,  p < 0.01)  and between pandemic stress symptoms and social skills (r = -.456, p < 0.01). These correlations suggest that the less Emoitonal Intelligence the more pandemic stress symptoms. That is, Emotional Intelligence is a healthy coping mechanism to be used to reduce the pandemic crisis emotions. This study supports the finding that training or treatment that increases Emotional Intelligence and its related subcategories in individuals should provide a mitiagating effect on the crisis emotions of the Covid – 19 pandemic stress. We suggest that better preventive mental health public training strategies can be a significant factor not only in reducing subjective distress but also in keeping the imune system strong and healthy.