Page No: 174-184
Poonam Dhaka and Monya Louw
University of Namibia, Namibia
This study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental
health of employed and unemployed adults in Windhoek, Namibia. The study was
guided by a quantitative, exploratory cross-sectional research design. Convenience
sampling and simple random sampling methods were used to select the participants of
the study correspondingly. A total sample of 400 adults participated, aged between 20
and 35. The Emotional Maturity Scale (EMS) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
Scale (DASS-21) were used to collect data. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)
was also conducted to determine if there was any significant relationship between
emotional intelligence, mental health, gender, age, marital status, and employment
status. A significant relationship was found between emotional intelligence and
depression, as well as emotional intelligence and stress. Furthermore, a significant
relationship was found between emotional intelligence and employment status. Overall,
the employed participants experienced a higher prevalence of moderate to high
emotional intelligence. Moreover, a significant relationship was determined between
depression and employment status. The prevalence of mental health problems was
higher amongst the unemployed participants. The study recommends the implementation
of platforms where issues of emotional intelligence and mental health can be discussed,
and emotional intelligence skills and healthy coping strategies can be introduced,
which could promote a more prosperous and thriving Namibia