The role of personality traits and emotional intelligence in predicting academic stress among university students

According to previous studies, academic stress is related to both basic personality traits and emotional intelligence (EI) as a trait which has demonstrated its relevance in numerous research regarding stress and mental health domains. The present study sought to examine the role of trait EI in predicting academic-related stress, while controlling basic personality traits. A sample (N=288) completed: 1) Perceptions of Academic Stress (PAS) Scale, measuring intensity of academic-related stress, 2) HEXACO PI-R comprising traits Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Openness, and 3) the TEIQue, examining trait EI (encompassing factors Well-Being, Self-control, Emotionality, and Sociability). The subjects in this online research were students from the University of Belgrade. Four hierarchical regression models comprising the HEXACO traits (entered 1st) and trait EI factors (entered 2nd) as predictors, and academic stress variables as criterions variables, were tested. HEXACO traits explained 8-25% of variance, while predictors of the second block incrementally explained 5-7% of the variance in academic stress. The current data suggests that specific emotion-related personality dispositions encompassed by trait EI have a significant role in predicting academic-related stress and indicates its incremental predictive validity over basic personality traits. The practical implications of the obtained results refer to the importance of programs for planned, targeted stimulation of EI in the context of education.