A Proposed Training Program Based on Emotional Intelligence to Enhance the Mental Health of Students at Arab American University رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

In view of the growing psychological and academic demands on our university students, it is necessary to seek ways that effectively promote mental health and coping. Emotional intelligence is one of the main psychological factors that can assist in enhancing a student's psychological quality of life, reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and in addition to enhancing social interaction and academic performance. From this perspective, this study aimed to identify the level of mental health, emotional intelligence and academic pressure of Arab American university students. Then, propose a training program based on emotional intelligence to enhance the mental health of students. The study population consisted of all undergraduate students enrolled in various faculties at Arab American University and a convenient sample of 300 students. The study adopted a developmental research approach aimed at designing a proposed training program based on emotional intelligence to enhance the mental health of students at the Arab American University. A questionnaire was used as the primary data collection tool to measure levels of emotional intelligence, levels of depression, levels of anxiety, levels of stress, and levels of academic pressure among the students. The results obtained from the questionnaire were used to identify students’ needs and to guide the development of the proposed training program. The results showed that the level of emotional intelligence among undergraduate students varied. with 37.3% of students demonstrating a low level, 50.3%, showing a medium level, and only 12.3% having a high level of emotional intelligence. Many students also experienced significant mental health challenges. The highest percentage, 45.7%, reported an extremely severe level of depression; 51.7%, had an extremely severe level of anxiety; and 38.7% exhibited a severe level of stress. In terms of academic pressure, 69.7% of students V experienced a medium level of pressure, which was the highest among the categories reported.