Emotional Intelligence and Job Stress

Abstract

Substance abuse professionals work with chemically dependent addicts and disgruntled coworkers. They experience more occupational stress and employee turnover than social workers, community support workers, and youth care workers. Three of 37 substance abuse agencies in Kansas City, Missouri have reported extremely high employee turnover rates and occupational stress. How do substance abuse professionals perceive the relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress? What are substance abuse professionals' definitions of emotional intelligence and job stress? How does emotional intelligence affect job stress in the substance abuse profession? Why do higher levels of emotional intelligence reduce people's job stress and improve their job performance? The purposes of this chapter are to explore substance abuse professionals' definitions of emotional intelligence and job stress, and their viewpoints on the relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress.