Abstract
The objective 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. Methods we administered online is 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 students (N=300) from 5 state universities in Albania, of whom 198 female (66%) and 102 male (34%) in range of 19-25 years. 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 emotional 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 mitigating 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 immune system strong and healthy.
Highlights
Individuals differ in their ability to process information of an emotional nature and in their ability to relate emotional processing to a broader cognition
As it can be inferred by the table, when Pandemic Stress Symptoms grow, the possibility for students to use more of their emotional intelligence coping mechanisms increase
The current study aimed to explore the impact of emotional intelligence on pandemic stress symptoms in Albanian University students aged 19-25 years
Summary
Individuals differ in their ability to process information of an emotional nature and in their ability to relate emotional processing to a broader cognition. Brooks et al (2020) reviewed the particular impact of COVID-19 symptoms in the university students and educational system as vulnerable group Their findings suggest that in quarantine periods young people show high levels of stress, anxiety, confusion and anger that affect their physical and psychological well-being. Physical distance can prevent the spread of the virus in the material-term of saving lives, but we need a social connection to emotionally cope and bare the pandemic-stress, even through telematic communication (Nardone, Bartoli & Milanese, 2020) These short or longterm consequences are of sufficient importance that immediate efforts should be focused on prevention and direct intervention to address the impact of the outbreak (Galea, Merchant & Lurie, 2020)
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