Pascale Salameh1,2,3, Souheil Hallit4,5, Sahar Obeid6,7,8, Chadia Haddad9,10, Kassandra Fares11, Diana Malaeb12,13, Hala Sacre1, Marwan Akel1,12. 1. INSPECT-LB: Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie - Liban, Beirut, Lebanon. 2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus. 3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. 4. INSPECT-LB: Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie - Liban, Beirut, Lebanon. souheilhallit@hotmail.com. 5. Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon. souheilhallit@hotmail.com. 6. Research and Psychology Departments, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, P.O. Box 60096, Jal Eddib, Lebanon. saharobeid23@hotmail.com. 7. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon. saharobeid23@hotmail.com. 8. INSPECT-LB: Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie - Liban, Beirut, Lebanon. saharobeid23@hotmail.com. 9. Research and Psychology Departments, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, P.O. Box 60096, Jal Eddib, Lebanon. 10. Université de Limoges, UMR 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Institut d'Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, GEIST, 87000, Limoges, France. 11. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon. 12. School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon. 13. Life Sciences and Health Department, Paris-Est University, Paris, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Relationship between emotional intelligence and emotional variables such as stress, depression, anxiety and mental health has been well documented in child and adult samples. New insights into the association between emotional intelligence and different components of mental health in one study (cognitive, emotional and behavioral dimensions) can help patients, therapists, relatives, and friends to understand, explain, and cope with symptoms. There have been no studies assessing the association between the emotional intelligence (EI) with various factors in Lebanon. This study principal aim was to evaluate how EI is related to mental health issues: social anxiety, depression, alcohol use disorders (AUD), work fatigue, stress and alexithymia in Lebanon. METHODS: 789 participants were enrolled in a cross-sectional study between November 2017 and March 2018. A cluster analysis was used to evaluate participants' profiles with the help of emotional intelligence subscales, to separate the Lebanese population into equal limited units with different characteristics using the K-mean technique. RESULTS: Three clusters were computed dividing participants into low EI (cluster 1; 24.5%), moderate EI (cluster 2; 43.7%) and high EI (cluster 3; 31.7%) respectively. Fitting into the cluster 1 (low EI) was significantly associated with higher AUD, alexithymia, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, social phobia, emotional, mental and physical work fatigue, suicidal ideation compared to cluster 3 (high EI). Fitting into the cluster 2 (moderate EI) was significantly correlated with higher AUD, depression, alexithymia, anxiety, perceived stress, social phobia, mental work fatigue and suicidal ideation compared to cluster 3 (high EI). CONCLUSION: This study results suggest that emotional intelligence is related to different variables, warranting interventions to limit/decrease alcohol abuse and mental/psychological illnesses as much possible.
BACKGROUND: Relationship between emotional intelligence and emotional variables such as stress, depression, anxiety and mental health has been well documented in child and adult samples. New insights into the association between emotional intelligence and different components of mental health in one study (cognitive, emotional and behavioral dimensions) can help patients, therapists, relatives, and friends to understand, explain, and cope with symptoms. There have been no studies assessing the association between the emotional intelligence (EI) with various factors in Lebanon. This study principal aim was to evaluate how EI is related to mental health issues: social anxiety, depression, alcohol use disorders (AUD), work fatigue, stress and alexithymia in Lebanon. METHODS: 789 participants were enrolled in a cross-sectional study between November 2017 and March 2018. A cluster analysis was used to evaluate participants' profiles with the help of emotional intelligence subscales, to separate the Lebanese population into equal limited units with different characteristics using the K-mean technique. RESULTS: Three clusters were computed dividing participants into low EI (cluster 1; 24.5%), moderate EI (cluster 2; 43.7%) and high EI (cluster 3; 31.7%) respectively. Fitting into the cluster 1 (low EI) was significantly associated with higher AUD, alexithymia, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, social phobia, emotional, mental and physical work fatigue, suicidal ideation compared to cluster 3 (high EI). Fitting into the cluster 2 (moderate EI) was significantly correlated with higher AUD, depression, alexithymia, anxiety, perceived stress, social phobia, mental work fatigue and suicidal ideation compared to cluster 3 (high EI). CONCLUSION: This study results suggest that emotional intelligence is related to different variables, warranting interventions to limit/decrease alcohol abuse and mental/psychological illnesses as much possible.
Authors: Helen Z Reinherz; Angela D Paradis; Rose M Giaconia; Cecilia K Stashwick; Garrett Fitzmaurice Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 18.112