Trait Emotional Intelligence and Self-regulated Learning in University Students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediation role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and COVID-19 Perceived Stress

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111999Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Trait Emotional Intelligence enhances Self-Regulated Learning.

  • COVID-19 Stress and Inhibitory Intolerance of Uncertainty may impair learning strategies.

  • Prospective Intolerance of Uncertainty positively influences Self-Regulated Learning.

  • Trait Emotional Intelligence buffers negative effects of stressors on approach to study.

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic strongly impacted the higher education system, challenging university students, who were required to make a considerable effort in terms of revising their personal study approach and managing their emotions. The present study aimed to examine the impact of Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) on Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) strategies directly, and indirectly through the mediation of COVID-19 perceived stress (PS) and Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU). 1055 Italian university students (mean age = 22.44 years, SD = 2.39) reached via social media, filled out the tools assessing TEI, COVID-19 PS, IU and SRL. Five mediation analyses performed with PROCESS showed that TEI positively predicted all SRL dimensions, and negatively influenced COVID-19 PS and Prospective and Inhibitory IU. COVID-19 PS and Inhibitory and Prospective IU differently predicted specific SRL dimensions. The indirect effects observed suggest that TEI may help university students to cope with stressful and uncertain psychological experiences in order to achieve higher levels of SRL strategies. The study highlights that TEI plays a pivotal role in academic SRL strategies, underlining the importance of its buffering effect in distressing circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Trait emotional intelligence
Self-regulated learning
University students
Intolerance of uncertainty
Perceived stress
COVID-19

Abbreviations

TEI
Trait Emotional Intelligence
SRL
Self-Regulated Learning
COVID-19 PS
COVID-19 Perceived Stress
IU
Intolerance of Uncertainty

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Cited by (0)

Declarations of interest: none.

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