Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial for mitigating academic stress among students. This conceptual study aims to examine the correlation between EI and academic stress, identify the mechanisms by which EI moderates stress, assess the implications of integrating EI into educational curricula, investigate EI's impact of EI on student coping and well-being, and develop a conceptual framework illustrating their relationship. The rationale for this study lies in the need for practical solutions to rising stress levels in education, emphasizing the role of EI in enhancing students' psychological health and academic performance. Research indicates that students with higher EI manage stress better, enjoy improved well-being and demonstrate greater academic success. EI moderates stress by influencing the cognitive appraisal of stressors and promoting emotion regulation, adaptive coping strategies, social support networks, motivation, and resilience. Cross-cultural differences in EI and academic stress highlight the need for culturally sensitive approaches to education. Recommendations for implementing EI training include curriculum integration, educator training, peer support, technology use, stress management workshops, regular EI assessment, supportive environments, EI-focused teaching methods, extracurricular activities, and family collaboration. This study underscores the importance of fostering EI in educational settings to reduce academic stress and promote student success, advocating for its integration through strategic curriculum development and training programmes