2.4 HOW EMOTIONS INFLUENCE SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING
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Emotions are strongly tied to physical and psychological well-being. For example, some studies have suggested that cancer patients who have strong EI live longer than those with weak EI. People who are aware of the needs of others tend to be happier than people who are not. An extensive study done at the University of Pennsylvania found that the best athletes succeed in part because they’re extremely optimistic. A number of studies link strong EI skills to college success in particular. These studies indicate that emotionally intelligent students get higher grades. Researchers looked at students’ GPAs at the end of their first year of college. Students who had tested high for intrapersonal skills, stress tolerance, and adaptability when they entered college did better academically than those who had lower overall EI test scores. Strong EI also affects students’ willingness to persist in college. Persistent students keep moving forward through challenging situations, even if progress is slow. And finally students who can delay gratification tend to do better overall. This means that many times while you are in college you are going to have to delay certain fun activities so that you will have more time to succeed in your academic work.
Healthy EI contributes to overall academic success, positive professional and personal relationships, including romantic ones, and career development and satisfaction. EI skills can be enhanced in a college success course. Studies show that because these skills can be learned, infusing them in a college success course can improve first-year students’ emotional intelligence, and thus their ultimate success.5 Here are a few other highlights of these studies:
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Students with intrapersonal skills (emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, independence, self-regard, and self-actualization), stress tolerance, adaptability skills (reality testing, flexibility, and problem solving), and stress management skills (stress tolerance and impulse control) do better academically than those who lack these skills.
Students who can’t manage their emotions struggle academically. Some students experience panic attacks before tests, and far too many students turn to risky behaviors (such as drug and alcohol abuse) in an effort to cope.
Even students who manage to succeed academically in spite of emotional difficulties can be at risk if unhealthy behavior patterns follow them after college.
If you think you need help developing some of these skills, especially if you feel that you are not happy or optimistic, do something about it. You can get by in college without strong EI, but you might miss out on the full range and depth of competencies and skills that can help you succeed in your chosen field and have a fulfilling and meaningful life. Although you can look online for tips about being an optimistic person, there is nothing like getting some in-person help from a professional. Consider visiting your academic adviser or a wellness or counseling center on campus. Look for any related workshops that are offered on campus or nearby.
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