A MIXED-METHOD STUDY OF THE EMOTIONAL COMPETENCY AND PERCEIVED STRESS OF POLITEKNIK BRUNEI STUDENTS
Strand: Teacher Professionalism
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Abstract
Trait Emotional intelligence (TEI) and stress are essential concepts, particularly among students. However, the TEI level among the Politeknik Brunei (PB) student population is unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate PB students’ TEI and its relationship with perceived stress using a mixed-method approach. Six hundred and ninety-nine (N=699) PB students participated in this study, conducted in two phases. Two established research instruments are employed and administered in the pilot and actual study. Phase 1 findings highlighted that both TEI and Perceived Stress levels of PB students are moderate; they are also moderately and negatively correlated. Interestingly, female students have significantly higher mean perceived stress score than male students. Congruent with other studies abroad, the findings demonstrate an association between Trait EI and perceived stress in the Bruneian context, particularly in TVET setting. Note that phase 2 findings are pending since the study is ongoing. This research study will have social and practical implications to mitigate unwanted issues, increasing the students’ probability of graduating and advancing into universities, including employability in the IR 4.0 era.
KEYWORDS
Trait Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Stress, Higher Education Students, TVET Institution, Socio-Emotional Learning
Hj Zul Fakhari bin Muksin
Assistant Head of General Studies Division (Academic)
Politeknik Brunei
Hj Zul Fakhari bin Muksin is the Assistant Head of General Studies Division (Academic) at Politeknik Brunei. Having been teaching for 17 years, he is currently a PhD candidate at Universiti Teknologi Brunei in General Management. His research interests are self-leadership, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, wellbeing & quality of life.
Rahimah binti Hj Mohiddin is the Head of Research & Statistics Division at Politeknik Brunei. She graduated with a BSc and MSc in Physics. In 2018, she was appointed as an education attache to the United Kingdom. Her passion includes teaching and learning, particularly in constructivism.