Oronsaye O.D. and Erhabor N.I.

Health Safety and Environmental Education, Faculty of Education,

University of Benin, Benin City

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the stress level and emotional intelligence of undergraduates. Three research questions were raised and analysed.  The population of the study comprised of female undergraduates in the Halls of residence of the University of Benin with a total population of one thousand six hundred students (1600); while a sample size of 160 students making up 10% of the entire population of study was used.  The sample size was achieved using simple random sample technique of balloting by replacement. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and analyzed using simple percentage. While the test- re test reliability method was adopted to ascertain the reliability of the instrument. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient is 0.824. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The result revealed that; the stress level of students and their emotional intelligence can relatively affect the students academic performance, this study also showed at that the higher the stress level of students the lower their emotional intelligence. Helping students develop their EI holds promise to help them more effectively manage stress which should result in higher academic performance and perhaps even graduation rates. Efforts should be intensified to establish curriculum plans so as to integrate effective practical strategy to help ensure the development of the emotional intelligence of students as well as put systematic activities in place for evaluating the students.