J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2014 Nov;20(4):502-512. 10.5977/jkasne.2014.20.4.502.

Differences in Stress and Stress Coping Strategies according to Emotional Intelligence in Nursing Students

• Song JE
• Chae HJ

• KMID: 2327531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2014.20.4.502

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to identify differences in stress levels and stress coping strategies according to the degree of emotional intelligence in nursing students. METHOD: Study participants included 367 nursing students from three universities in Gyeonggi and Chungnam provinces. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire in December 2012 and subsequently analyzed via the IBM SPSS 20.0 program with descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA and Scheffe tests.
RESULTS
The emotional intelligence of nursing students was slightly higher than average. Perceived stress and clinical practice stress among nursing students were high and nursing students used more problem-focused compared to emotion-focused coping strategies. Nursing students who had a higher level of emotional intelligence exhibited lower levels of perceived stress (t=2.26, p=.025) and clinical practice stress (t=9.37, p<.001) and more used problem-focused coping strategies (t=-7.56, p<.001) than those who had a lower level of emotional intelligence.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that nursing interventions to improve the emotional intelligence of nursing students are necessary to manage stress more effectively.

Keyword

Emotional intelligence; Stress; Coping; Nursing student

MeSH Terms

Chungcheongnam-do
Emotional Intelligence*
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Nursing
Surveys and Questionnaires
Students, Nursing*