Emotional Intelligence as Predictor of Mental, Social, and Physical Health in University Students

TLDR

The study investigated how emotional intelligence relates to anxiety, depression, and mental, social, and physical health among university students. The study surveyed 184 university students (38 men, 146 women) using the Trait Meta‑Mood Scale to assess EI dimensions, the Trait Anxiety Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory to measure anxiety and depression, and the SF‑12 Health Survey to evaluate mental, social, and physical health. Higher Emotional Attention predicted greater anxiety, depression, and poorer role emotional, social functioning, and mental health, whereas higher Emotional Clarity and Mood Repair predicted lower anxiety and depression and better physical, social, and mental health, confirming EI dimensions as predictors of health outcomes.

Abstract

This study examined the association between emotional intelligence (EI), anxiety, depression, and mental, social, and physical health in university students. The sample was made up of 184 university students (38 men and 146 women). EI was evaluated by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (Salovey, Mayer, Goldman, Turvey, & Palfai, 1995), which evaluates the three dimensions (Attention, Clarity, and Mood Repair). Anxiety was evaluated with the Trait Anxiety Questionnaire (Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs, 1983) and depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). Mental, social, and physical health were evaluated with the SF-12 Health Survey (Ware, Kosinski, & Keller, 1996). Results showed that high Emotional Attention was positively and significantly related to high anxiety, depression, and to low levels of Role Emotional, Social Functioning, and Mental Health. However, high levels of emotional Clarity and Mood Repair were related to low levels of anxiety and depression, high Role Physical, Social Functioning, Mental Health, Vitality, and General Health. This study confirmed the predictive value of Attention, Clarity and Mood Repair regarding the levels of anxiety, depression, and areas related to mental, social, and physical health in university students.