[ relationship between emotional intelligence and coping strategies of Golestan medical science university students]

ABSTRACT

Emotional intelligence is considered as a person's innate ability to perceive and manage his own emotions in a manner that results in successful interactions with the environment. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and coping styles in Golestan University of Medical Sciences' Students in 2008. In this descriptive-analytic study, 180 students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. Then the students completed Schering emotional intelligence and Coping Styles [CR-S] questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level in all tests was considered as 0.05. The mean age of the cases was 21.46 +/- 2.08 and 53.3% of them were female. There were significant statistical differences between emotional intelligence and its subscales [self-motivation, self-control, self-awareness, social awareness and social skills] with problem-oriented coping skills [P<0.05]. Emotional intelligence total score along with self-control, social awareness and social skills subscale had significant correlation with effective emotion-oriented coping skills [P<0.05]. There was a significant reverse correlation between emotional intelligence total score and its five subscales with ineffective coping skills. There is a relationship between emotional intelligence and effective coping styles. Emotional intelligence can be a link between life stress and psychological adjustment to protect individuals against psychological problems.