ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND WORK LIFE BALANCE IN JOB STRESS.

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The 21st century is also an era of stress. Individuals face job stress in their organization and daily lives due to globalization, information technology revolution, and speed of life. The most important effects of these can be seen in the business world, and they can manifestthemselves as changes that organizations make in their structures, strategies, activities, andtechnologies. Constantly changing organizations impose new roles and duties on theiremployees which have effect on their work life balance, and the employees who want to handle new roles and duties need to haveefficiency in intelligence quotient (IQ) and efficiency in emotional quotient (EQ) in theprocesses of decision making and problem solving. A completely stress-free life isimpossible, and stress becomes a characteristic of human existence. Individuals have usedvarious methods to handle stress, including using their intelligence, especially their emotionalintelligence (Sirin, 2007).Emotional intelligence (EI) is a social intelligence that enables people to recognizetheir own, and other peoples' emotions. Moreover, emotional intelligence enablespeople to differentiate those emotions, and to make appropriate choices for thinkingand action (Cooper and Sawaf, 1997; Mayer and Salovey, 1993). It is an intelligencethat may be learned, developed and improved (Perkins, 1994; Sternberg, 1996).Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluateemotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned andstrengthened, while other claim it is an inborn characteristic. It is also, defined as theability to use your awareness and sensitivity to discern the feelings underlyinginterpersonal communication, and to resist the temptation to respond impulsively andthoughtlessly, but instead to act from receptivity, authenticity and candour (Ryback,1998). Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer (1990) in their influentialarticle “EmotionalIntelligence,” defined emotional intelligence as, “the subset of social intelligence thatinvolves the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, todiscriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's thinking andactions”. Emotionally intelligent people are defined in part as those who regulate their emotions according to a logically consistent model of emotional functioning.

Emotional intelligence allows employee to think more creatively and use his emotions to solve problems. Daniel Goleman believes that emotional intelligence appears to be an important set of psychological abilities that relates to work life balance and life success. It is empathy and communication skills as well as social and leadership skills that will be central to your work life balance and personal relationships. The ability to manage feelings and handle stress is another aspect of emotional intelligence that has been found to be important for successful work life balance. Emotional intelligence has as much to do with knowing when and how to express emotion as it does with controlling it. Empathy is a particularly important aspect of emotional intelligence. Emotions are more successful in work as well as in social lives. Emotional Intelligence is now being considered to be an important organizational factor.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Stress is recognized worldwide as a major challenge to workers health and the healthiness of organizations. Stress can be brought about by pressures at work. Job stress can be a real problem to the organization as well as to the workers. Job stress can manifest itself in numerous ways. A range of somatic and mental ailments such as, tension headaches, allergies, back problems, colds and flu, depression (Arroba & James, 1990), anxiety, irritation, tension and sleeplessness(Cooper, Cooper &Eaker, 1988) and may lead to health compromising coping strategies such as increased consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs (Quick, Nelson & Quick, 1990).Chronic exposure to stress may have even very serious consequences such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory illnesses, strokes, arthritis, ulcers and high blood pressure (Quick, Nelson& Quick, 1990; Cooper, Cooper &Eaker, 1988). However, all individuals do not develop such problems in face of stress. However, the researcher is examining the role of emotional intelligence and work life balance in job stress.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1. To examine the role of emotional intelligence and work life balance in job stress
2. To find out the relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress
3. To identify the factors causing job stress in a work place

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the role of emotional intelligence and work life balance in job stress?
2. What is the relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress?
3. What are the factors causing job stress in a work place?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

Ho:  There is no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress.

Hi:   There is no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress.

1.7   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The outcome of this study will educate the general public and managers of corporate organizations on the causes of job stress for the employee and how emotional intelligence can be used to maintain proper work life balance.
2. This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

1.8   SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study on the role of emotional intelligence and work life balance in job stress will cover all the factors that causes job stress and approaches by which emotional intelligence can be used to maintain a stable work life balance.

LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research wor74