THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON STUDENT MENTAL STABILITY

Abstract

Student mental health and stability is a crucial issue in higher education because it impacts an individual's academic, social, and emotional abilities. Social support from the surrounding environment, along with emotional intelligence, play a key role in maintaining mental stability, enabling individuals to manage their emotions adaptively. This study aims to determine the effect of social support and emotional intelligence on students' mental stability. The research method used was quantitative with a correlational approach. The sample consisted of active students at several universities in Indonesia, selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires that had been tested for validity and reliability, and then analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

The results showed that social support had a positive and significant effect on students' mental stability, meaning that the higher the social support received, the more stable the individual's mental state. Furthermore, emotional intelligence also had a positive and significant effect on mental stability, indicating that the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions appropriately helps students adapt to academic and social pressures. Simultaneously, these two independent variables contributed significantly to students' mental stability. These findings underscore the importance of a supportive social environment and the development of emotional intelligence in maintaining mental health on campus.