Effects of Emotional Intelligence on Psychological Distress: Mediating Role of Psychological Vulnerability among Pakistani University Students
Abstract
This study aimed to study the effect of emotional intelligence on the mental distress of university students in Pakistan, keeping in mind the mediating role of psychological vulnerability. In this study, a quantitative research approach was selected to investigate the relationships between emotional intelligence, psychological vulnerability, and psychological distress among university students in Pakistan. The research team collected data from a diverse group of 430 university students across various institutions in Pakistan through a research questionnaire. After data collection, the information was entered into SPSS for analysis, utilizing statistical techniques such as t-tests, ANOVA, and mediation analysis via the PROCESS macro. This comprehensive methodology facilitated the testing of a theoretical model, examining relationships between variables within the study. AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan were excluded as we had no access to these areas. Emotional Intelligence was measured using the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale mental distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and psychological vulnerability was measured using the Psychological Vulnerability Scale. Mediation analysis revealed that the effect of emotional intelligence on psychological distress was enhanced by the presence of psychological vulnerability. This study clarifies the distress and its impact on emotional intelligence.
Keywords
Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Vulnerability, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mediation, Pakistan, University students, pls sem
Author Biography
Adan Binte Mustafa
Adan Binte Mustafa is a Visiting Lecturer at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KPK, Pakistan
Amnah Ejaz
Amnah Ejaz is lecturer at Foundation University Islamabad, Pakistan
References
- Adams, R. E., Boscarino, J. A., & Figley, C. R. (2006). Compassion fatigue and psychological distress among social workers: A validation study. American Journal of orthopsychiatry, 76(1), 103-108.
- Andrews, G., & Slade, T. (2001). Interpreting scores on the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10). Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 25(6), 494-497.
- Balakrishnan, A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2015). Be mindful how you measure: A psychometric investigation of the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 87, 293-297.
- Campos, R. C., Besser, A., Abreu, H., Parreira, T., & Blatt, S. J. (2014). Personality vulnerabilities in adolescent suicidality: The mediating role of psychological distress. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 78(2), 115-139
- Chan, D. W. (2006). Emotional intelligence, social coping, and psychological distress among Chinese gifted students in Hong Kong. High Ability Studies, 16(02), 163-178.
- Cherniss, C. (2000). Emotional intelligence: What it is and why it matters (p. 15). Rutgers University, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
- Conte, J. M. (2005). A review and critique of emotional intelligence measures. Journal of organizational behavior, 26(4), 433-440.
- Dulewicz, V., & Higgs, M. (1999). Can emotional intelligence be measured and developed?. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
- Easton, S. D., Safadi, N. S., Wang, Y., & Hasson, R. G. (2017). The Kessler psychological distress scale: translation and validation of an Arabic version. Health and quality of life outcomes, 15(1), 1-7.
- Ensel, W. M., & Lin, N. (1991). The life stress paradigm and psychological distress. Journal of Health and Social behavior, 321-341.
- Karim, J. (2009). Emotional intelligence and psychological distress: Testing the mediatory role of affectivity. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 5(4), 20-39.
- Landa, J. M. A., & López-Zafra, E. (2010). The impact of emotional intelligence on nursing: An overview. Psychology, 1(1), 50. .
- M. A., Simmons, R. G., Roth, L. H., Schulberg, H. C., Thompson, M. E., Armitage, J. M., & Griffith, B. P. (1994). Psychosocial predictors of vulnerability to distress in the year following heart transplantation. Psychological medicine, 24(4), 929-945
- Marcussen, K. (2006). Identities, self-esteem, and psychological distress: An application of identity-discrepancy theory. Sociological Perspectives, 49(1), 1-24.
- Matthews, G., Zeidner, M., & Roberts, R. D. (2004). Emotional intelligence: Science and myth. MIT Press.
- Mewton, L., Kessler, R. C., Slade, T., Hobbs, M. J., Brownhill, L., Birrell, L., & Andrews, G. . (2016). the psychometric properties of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) in a general population sample of adolescents. Psychological assessment, 28(10), 1232. intelligence. JD Mayer.
- Salovey, P. (2004). Emotional intelligence is a standard intelligence. Emotional Intelligence: Key Readings on the Mayer and Salovey Model.
- Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, cognition and personality, 9(3), 185-211.