The relationship between Occupational Stress and Em otional Intelligence. A study based on two Emotional Intelligence assessment instrument s

Based on 2 samples of employees in the financial and banking sector, the authors examine the convergence of two measures of Emotional Intelligence, namely the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), and the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) which are the products of different approaches to the focal concept. Furthermore, the authors examine the relationship of both these measures with occupational stress, with specific stressfull events and with coping mechanisms. The study finds only a low convergence of the two measures, as well as average correlations with occupational stress and low correlations with individual coping strategies. Emotional Intelligence measured as an ability has a higher affinity with these processes than Emotional Intelligence measured as personality.