THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF THE DIMENSIONS OF EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PREDICTING THE OCCUPATIONAL STRESS OF FEMALE AND MALE CIVIL SERVANTS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study examined the relative contributions of the dimensions of Emotional and Social Intelligence in predicting the Occupational Stress of Female and Male Civil Servants in Rivers State. Four hypotheses were postulated and tested. Correlational design was used to gather data from 600 civil servants drawn through proportionate stratified sampling technique. Three instruments - Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Social Intelligence Scale (SIS) and Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) - which were validated and had reliability coefficients of 0.827 for EIS, 0.849 for SIS and 0.953 for OSI respectively, were the data gathering devices. Multiple regression analysis served as the statistical tool.

The results of the study showed that the dimensions of Emotional Intelligence when considered separately, significantly predict the Occupational Stress of both Female and Male Civil Servants. In the same vein, the components of Social Intelligence (Social Information Processing, Social Skills and Social Awareness) when considered separately, significantly predict the Occupational Stress of both Female and Male Civil Servants.

Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that gender stereotyping should be avoided in our work places, since gender (Female and Male) does not mediate the Occupational Stress of Civil Servants.