Quality of Life and Emotional Intelligence among Arts and Commerce Students

Since the end of 20th century, the concept of psychological well being has been the concern for many psychologists. In this context Seligman (2002) opined that pleasant and meaningful life may be built up on the happiness that results from using person's psychological strengths. According to World Health Organization (WHO), data says Asia accounts for 60% of suicides worldwide each year, with India among those leading the list. The suicide rates are alarming in India. 16 students committed suicide each day in India in 2006. The figure increased to 18 a day in 2009 (according to the latest available data with the National Crime Records Bureau), an increase of 15.4% since 2006 the sharpest in four years. Therefore, considering the importance of mental health and quality of life among student community quality of life was considered as one of the variables of the study.Emotions play an important role in individual's life as a result the concept of emotional intelligence has received growing attention in the present world. Studies have shown that some of those with fabulous IQ scores were doing poorly in life. One of the major missing parts in the success equation is emotional intelligence. Studies have also shown that person with a high emotional quotient will become more responsible and respectful whereas, person with a low emotional intelligence will often feel helpless. Therefore, considering the role played by emotional intelligence in every walks of life right from education to work place emotional intelligence was considered as one of the variables of the present study.Traditional medical science has often been inspired by mechanical models in its attempts to understand human beings this theory takes an explicitly biological starting point. Quality of life (QOL) means a good life. A good life is the same as living a life with a high quality. All great religions and philosophies have a notion of a good life ranging from saying that a good life is attained by practical codes of conduct to requests to engage in a certain positive attitude to life orto search into the depths of your own being. Notions about a good life are closely linked to the culture of which you are a part. When people in a Western culture view a good life, the cultural conditioning makes them tend to include happiness, fulfillment of needs, functioning in a social context, etc. These notions can then be divided into three; namely, subjective, objective, existential quality of life.There are various definitions of emotional intelligence. The present work is based on trait model of emotional intelligence. Trait El refers to an individual's self-perceptions of their emotional abilities. Emotional intelligence is based on various models such as Ability model by Salovey and Mayer, Mixed model, Emotional Competencies (Goleman) model, Trait El model by Petrides and colleagues. Emotional intelligence has been studied extensively in various context be it industry, performance etc. But it needs to be studied in relation to educational setting. Therefore, an attempt has been made in the present study to study emotional intelligence among arts and commerce students.The present work is based on the strong theoretical foundation and review of literature, and accordingly hypotheses have been framed.Statement of the problem - To study the relationship between QOL and El among second year arts and commerce students.Aims and objectives of the study* To study QOL (OQOL, SQOL) among arts and commerce students of Pune city.* To study Emotional Intelligence among arts, and commerce students of Pune city.* To find out gender differences if any on QOL (OQOL, SQOL).* To find out gender differences if any in EI.* To study correlation if any between QOL and ELHypotheses of the study* Arts and commerce students will not differ on QOL.* Arts and commerce students will not differ on El.* Boys and girls will differ on QOL (OQOL, SQOL). …