The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Reducing Students’ Social Anxiety
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Reducing Students’ Social Anxiety

Author(s): Adina Mihai (Călugăru)
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Psychology, Social psychology and group interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Behaviorism
Published by: Editura Eikon
Keywords: social anxiety; emotional balance; emotional intelligence;
Summary/Abstract: This article highlights the importance of developing socio-emotional and social skills in students and awareness of their role in reducing social anxiety. The process of education is more than the transmission of knowledge and the formation of skills, but also the development of social and emotional skills. Emotional competences influence students' cognitive development and adaptation to the school environment. Stressful emotions such as anxiety interfere with cognitive ability and positive emotions increase the ability to cope with difficulties. Also, the teacher's teaching style can contribute to the students' well-being, favoring the installation of a favorable climate in the classroom. The present study investigated whether there are significant correlations between the level of emotional intelligence and the level of social anxiety. To test the hypotheses of this first study, two tests were applied: Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (March, 2010) to assess the level of social anxiety and The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (Petrides & Furnham, 2001), the short version for adolescents – to assess the level of emotional intelligence of students. The results of the study, conducted on a sample of 532 secondary school students showed a significant inverse correlation between the emotional intelligence variable and the social anxiety variable, r = - 0.53, p<0.0001. Socio-emotional skills facilitate relationships and promote emotional balance, developing students' ability to recognize, understand and manage their emotions, having the role of reducing their social anxiety. Social-emotional development, such as children's ability to have socially appropriate reactions and the ability to regulate their emotions during social situations, play an important role in diminishing social anxiety, which has several negative outcomes including physical symptoms, reduced cognitive functioning, and poorer academic performance.

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