Relationship between emotional intelligence and health anxiety: An Iranian survey

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

3 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Clinical Research Development Unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

5 Assistant professor of psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

6 Associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22038/JFMH.2024.82615.3168

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence shows that higher emotional intelligence can influence health anxiety. We aimed to assess the relationship between emotional intelligence can influence health anxiety.
 
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the Iranian general population using an online Persian questionnaire (demographic checklist, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18)), which fulfilled by 784 participants. The online form was available from May 17th to December 31st, 2020. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.
 
Results: Among the participants, 595 (76%) were female, and the total mean age of the participants was 25.90±6.81 years. University students (51%) and people with bachelor's educational degrees (34%) had the highest participation. There was a significant negative correlation between the total Emotional Intelligence (EQ) score and the total Health Anxiety (HA) score for females (r= -0.306; P< 0.001) and males (r= -0.263; P< 0.001). Utilization of Emotion (UOE) in both genders was not significantly related to the total HAI score or its fields (P> 0.05). In contrast to the females, in males, Other's Emotion Appraisal (OEA) was not correlated with worry HA and affected HA (P> 0.05). Lower total HA scores, as a predictor, were seen among older participants and participants with higher total EQ scores (β= -0.118, P= 0.003; β= -0.266, P< 0.0001, respectively).
 
Conclusion: Health anxiety has a medium correlation with emotional intelligence. Interventions intended to increase emotional intelligence can benefit public health by regulating health anxiety.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 27, Issue 1
January and February 2025
Pages 27-33

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