Direct and indirect relationships between emotional intelligence and subjective fatigue in university students

Emotional Intelligence in Hemodialysis Patients: The Impact of an Intradialytic Exercise Training Program

The current study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), functional capacity, fatigue, cognitive function, and quality of life (QoL) in HD patients and to assess the effect of a 9-month intradialytic exercise training program on EI levels. Seventy-eight dialysis patients (50 M/28 F, 60.6 ± 17.2 years) participated in the cross-sectional study. Afterward, a subgroup of 18 patients (15 M/3 F, 56.7 ± 12.3 years) completed a 9-month supervised intradialytic exercise training program (three times weekly). EI was assessed by the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). Functional capacity was assessed by a battery of tests. Sleep quality, depression levels, and daily sleepiness were assessed via validated questionnaires. All assessments were carried out before and after the intervention. A significant positive correlation was found between the WLEIS scores and the physical component summary of the QoL questionnaire. In contrast, the WLEIS scores were negatively associated with general and physical fatigue. The SSEIT scores were positively associated with cognitive function. After nine months of exercise training, only the group with low WLEIS scores improved their EI score significantly compared to the baseline values (98.7 ± 7.0 vs. 73.0 ± 4.0, p = 0.020), while no changes were observed in the medium or high EI groups. In conclusion, patients with higher levels of EI showed increased quality of life and lower levels of fatigue. Patients with low levels of EI are more likely to benefit from an exercise training program compared to their medium- and high-level counterparts.

Association between work fatigue and cognitive function among Lebanese health-care professionals: the moderating effect of emotional intelligence

The aim of this study was to assess the association between work-related fatigue and cognitive impairment among Lebanese health-care professionals with a closer look into the moderating role of emotional intelligence. This cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022; 406 Lebanese health-care professionals were recruited through convenience sampling. Moderate analysis showed that with low levels of emotional intelligence, more physical, mental, or emotional work fatigue was significantly associated with lower cognitive function scores. These scores get better in people with moderate and high emotional intelligence for the same levels of work fatigue. Health-care workers, especially in Lebanon, are subject to a decline in their cognitive function when faced to high work fatigue loads in all its types, physical, mental, and emotional, along with the country's stressors. Here comes the role of emotional intelligence, where for the same level of fatigue, professionals with high emotional intelligence tend to have better cognitive functioning.

A serial mediation model of social media addiction and college students' academic engagement: the role of sleep quality and fatigue

BACKGROUND

It has been documented that social media addiction (SMA) has a detrimental effect on college students' academic engagement. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. This study aimed to determine the serial mediation effects of sleep quality and fatigue on the relationship between SMA and academic engagement among college students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2661 college students (43.3% males, mean age = 19.97 years). The participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Utrecht Student Work Engagement Scale for Students, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fatigue Assessment Scale. The serial mediation effects were examined using Model 6 in the Hayes' PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS

The results showed that SMA among college students had a direct negative relationship with their academic engagement (Effect = - 0.051, 95% CI: -0.087 to - 0.015). In addition, sleep quality and fatigue mediated the relationship between SMA and academic engagement both independent and serially, with the independent mediation effect of sleep quality being - 0.031 (95% CI: -0.048 to - 0.016), the independent mediation effect of fatigue being - 0.109 (95% CI: -0.133 to - 0.088), and the serial mediation effect of sleep quality and fatigue being - 0.080 (95% CI: -0.095 to - 0.066). The total indirect effect of the three mediation paths was 80.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased academic engagement caused by SMA can be aggravated by poor sleep quality and fatigue. Strengthening supervision and intervention in social media use among college students, supplemented by attention to psychosomatic health, including sleep quality and fatigue could promote their engagement in academic work.

Tıp fakültesi öğrencilerinde azalmış kor enduransı, yorgunluk ve fiziksel inaktivite için risk faktörleri

Aim: Physical inactivity is an important public health problem for university students. It would be beneficial to identify risk factors for physical inactivity and fatigue, core endurance in young adults, and to make appropriate interventions for individuals at risk.The primary aim of the study was determine the factors affecting trunk endurance, fatigue and physical inactivity in medical faculty students. The secondary aim is to evaluate the relationship between trunk endurance and fatigue, physical activity and low back pain. It is also to investigate the relationship between fatigue and physical activity level. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 healthy volunteer medical faculty students. Demographic datas and history of low back pain were recorded. The trunk flexors endurance test, Modified Biering-Sorensen test and lateral bridge test were used to measure trunk muscle core endurance. The physical activity levels of the participants were measured using the “International Physical Activity Scale” (IPAQ). Fatigue Severity Scale and Roland Moris Inquiry Form was used for the evaluating of fatigue and functional disability due to low back pain. Results: The core endurance tests values in MET=3 group was found to be higher compared to MET=1 group (p

Network analysis of internet addiction and depression among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study

Background

There has been growing evidence of comorbidity between internet addiction and depression in youth during the COVID-19 period. According to the network theory, this may arise from the interplay of symptoms shared by these two mental disorders. Therefore, we examined this underlying process by measuring the changes in the central and bridge symptoms of the co-occurrence networks across time.

Methods

A total of 852 Chinese college students were recruited during two waves (T1: August 2020; T2: November 2020), and reported their internet addiction symptoms and depressive symptoms. Network analysis was utilized for the statistical analysis.

Results

The internet addiction symptoms "escape" and "irritable," and depression symptoms "energy" and "guilty" were the central symptoms for both waves. At the same time, "guilty" and "escape" were identified as bridge symptoms. Notably, the correlation between "anhedonia" and "withdrawal" significantly increased, and that between "guilty" and "escape" significantly decreased over time.

Conclusions

This study provides novel insights into the central features of internet addiction and depression during the two stages. Interestingly, "guilty" and "escape," two functions of the defense mechanism, are identified as bridge symptoms. These two symptoms are suggested to activate the negative feedback loop and further contribute to the comorbidity between internet addiction and depression. Thus, targeting interventions on these internalized symptoms may contribute to alleviating the level of comorbidity among college students.

Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Expression and Emotional Regulation for Intrinsic and Extrinsic Emotional Satisfaction

Purpose

Theorists have constructed emotional intelligence differently, based on which the literature reveals different diversified scales to measure emotional intelligence. These scales are quite lengthy to respond and have been criticized for producing varying results. The current paper projects the findings of 3 consecutive studies carried out to summarize and simplify the existing models of emotional intelligence and to produce a brief measure in this regard.

Methods

Based on the review of the earlier models of emotional intelligence, emotional intelligence was comprehended as an "ability to express and regulate emotions for intrinsic and extrinsic emotional satisfaction". "Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS)", comprising 12 items in English, was developed and validated through principal component analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis through a series of 3 consecutive studies which involved 1894 participants from Pakistan. The validity of EIS was tested step by step for its face, content, factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity. The reliability was measured through internal consistency and item-total and item-scale correlations.

Results

EIS was revealed to be a valid and reliable scale to measure emotional intelligence through 4 core factors, ie, emotional expression, emotional regulation, intrinsic emotional satisfaction, and extrinsic emotional satisfaction. The additional findings revealed significantly higher levels of emotional intelligence among men as compared to women; significantly positive correlation of emotional intelligence with social intelligence, positive emotional effects, age, and education; and a significantly inverse correlation between emotional intelligence and the negative emotional effects.

Conclusion

The current paper reported the development and validation of a new scale on emotional intelligence by comprehending and summarizing the earlier models of emotional intelligence.

Emotional processes in partners’ quality of life at various stages of breast cancer pathway: a longitudinal study

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have shown that emotional competence (EC) impacts cancer adjustment via anxiety and depression symptoms. The objective was to test this model for the quality of life (QoL) of partners: first, the direct effect of partners' EC on their QoL, anxiety and depression symptoms after cancer diagnosis (T1), after chemotherapy (T2) and after radiotherapy (T3); Second, the indirect effects of partners' EC at T1 on their QoL at T2 and T3 through anxiety and depression symptoms.

METHODS

192 partners of women with breast cancer completed a questionnaire at T1, T2 and T3 to assess their EC (PEC), anxiety and depression symptoms (HADS) and QoL (Partner-YW-BCI). Partial correlations and regression analyses were performed to test direct and indirect effects of EC on issues.

RESULTS

EC at T1 predicted fewer anxiety and depression symptoms at each time and all dimensions of QoL, except for career management and financial difficulties. EC showed different significant indirect effects (i.e. via anxiety or depression symptoms) on all sub-dimensions of QoL, except for financial difficulties, according to the step of care pathway (T2 and T3). Anxiety and depression played a different role in the psychological processes that influence QoL.

CONCLUSION

Findings confirm the importance of taking emotional processes into account in the adjustment of partners, especially regarding their QoL and the support they may provide to patients. It, thus, seems important to integrate EC in future health models and psychosocial interventions focused on partners or caregivers.

Validation of the Bar-On EQ-i: YV (S) Inventory in Its Spanish Version: Gender-Based Invariance Analysis

The purpose of this work is to verify the factorial structure and analyze the reliability of the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i): Youth Version (YV) (S) by evaluating emotional intelligence in a more extensive sample of Spanish adolescents than has been used to date, since this inventory has been employed in various studies but with a very limited number of participants. For this study, 5292 adolescents from all over Spain participated—male (51.2%) and female (48.8%) secondary education students between 11 and 19 years old, with an average age of 14.33. Data analysis included a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), reliability analysis, and model invariance as a function of gender. The CFA confirms that the data empirically support the theoretical model and that the goodness-of-fit indexes are adequate. The reliability analysis of the inventory presents a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total scale of 0.76, and reliability indexes for each of the factors range between 0.63 and 0.80. The findings show that the model indicates invariance related to gender.

Emotional Intelligence in Elementary School Children. EMOCINE, a Novel Assessment Test Based on the Interpretation of Cinema Scenes

The aim of the present study was to validate a new procedure, called EMOCINE test, to measure the perception and understanding branches of emotional intelligence (EI) in 1,448 children, aged between 8 and 13 years, from elementary schools. This new tool consists of watching 15 cartoon film clips and interpreting them according to children's own emotional perception and comprehension. After completing the test, the participants were classifie, according to their responses and by using the latent class analysis, as naïve (16.1%), over-interpretative (33.5%), and sensitive (50.4%). An increase in sensitive responses was observed depending on participants sex (girls higher than boys), and academic grade (increasing over the grades). Participants from the sensitive latent class had a significant better behavior in the school/classroom, compared with those from naïve and over-interpretative groups. Likewise, significant differences between latent classes were observed in many psychological, emotional, and behavioral problems (mainly between sensitive vs. insensitive by naivety) such as: depression, post-traumatic symptomatology, attention problems, aggression, family problems, problems at school, problems with classmates, integration and social competence. In conclusion, EMOCINE is a novel and promising tool for the measurement of the perception and comprehension components of EI. The test, employing film clips, is more realistic and motivating than others using static images or written descriptions. Moreover, the test can predict or identify emotional and behavior problems in children.

Predicting the Pursuit of Post-Secondary Education: Role of Trait Emotional Intelligence in a Longitudinal Study

Trait Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a constellation of emotional self-perceptions and dispositions related to perceiving, understanding, using, and managing emotions of self and others. Although higher trait EI has been implicated in post-secondary success among university students. There is lack of evidence for whether it predicts the pursuit of post-secondary education (PSE) in emerging adulthood. This was the first study to investigate the role of trait EI in PSE pursuit using a large, nationally-representative sample of Canadian young adults who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey for Children and Youth (NLSCY). Participants in this dataset reported on their PSE status at three biennial waves (age 20-21, 22-23, and 24-25), and completed a four-factor self-report scale for trait EI (Emotional Quotient Inventory: Mini) at ages 20-21 and 24-25. Higher trait EI subscale scores were significantly associated with greater likelihood of PSE participation both concurrently, and at 2- and 4-year follow-ups. Overall, these associations were larger for men than women. The finding that these links persisted over a multi-year period is particularly promising, as it represents an important validation step toward further investment in socioemotional competencies as part of youth development interventions.

Modeling the Effects of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression on Rumination, Sleep, and Fatigue in a Nonclinical Sample

Stress and affective distress have previously been shown to predict sleep quality, and all the factors have been shown to predict fatigue severity. However, few prior studies have examined the likely indirect mediational relationships between stress, affective distress, and sleep quality in predicting fatigue severity, and the potential role played by ruminative thinking. A short questionnaire asked 229 participants about their recent experiences of stress, affective distress, rumination, sleep, and fatigue in a community sample. High stress, anxiety, and depression were related to more ruminative thinking, which in turn was related to poor sleep quality (composed of subjective sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance) and poor sleep quality predicted worse fatigue. The results suggest that rumination parsimoniously explains the tendency of stress and affective distress to contribute to poor sleep quality, and together with poor sleep, it may also contribute to worse fatigue in some individuals.

The Mobile Emotional Intelligence Test (MEIT): An Ability Test to Assess Emotional Intelligence at Work

The present study analyzes the Mobile Emotional Intelligence Test (MEIT), a new ability-test to assess emotional intelligence (EI) in a digital way. Taking into account the importance of emotional competencies in the study of employees’ wellbeing and performance, the instrument tested is based on the most supported ability model (Four-branch Mayer and Salovey Model), and it evaluates emotional capacity through nine different emotional tasks. A total of 1549 participants (841 women and 708 men) with an average age of 27.77 (SD = 8.75) fulfilled the MEIT, consisting of 42 items. The score on the test is based on expert judgments: professional psychologists and emotional intelligence specialists. In addition to the MEIT test, a series of questionnaires was used to assess relevant constructs which research has shown to be related to EI (general intelligence, personality traits, and life satisfaction); besides, another measure of emotional intelligence trait (TMMS-24) was included. The results showed that the MEIT is a reliable and valid test that is useful for both scientific research and individual assessment. Statistical analysis provides evidence of the reliability and validity of the three-factor structure of the questionnaire. Moreover, internal consistency measures were high. In line with previous studies, MEIT maintains the expected relationships with the rest of the constructs studied. Finally, the limitations of the present study and the need for future research on emotional intelligence assessment are discussed.

Evaluation of emotional intelligence, sleep quality, and fatigue among Iranian medical, nursing, and paramedical students: A cross-sectional study

Background: Sleep disorders and fatigue in students may affect emotional intelligence, which is associated with increased risk of cognitive and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to determine sleep quality, fatigue, emotional intelligence, and related factors in Iranian medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional research was conducted in 2016. A total of 400 students were randomly selected from Semnan University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools included questionnaires for demographic information, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Bradbury-Graves's Emotional Intelligence Inventory and Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). Results: The quality of sleep was unsatisfactory for 38.5% students, 86.2% did not have general fatigue, and 13.8% were suffering from low overall fatigue. Moreover, 6% displayed low, 24% normal, and 70% high emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence showed a positive correlation with sleep quality (p = 0.044) and a negative correlation with general fatigue (p = 0.018). Sleep quality showed a negative correlation with general fatigue (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant relationship between sleep quality and fatigue with emotional intelligence and a significant relationship between sleep quality and fatigue.

Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is highly prevalent among doctors worldwide. However, no research has been done to examine the associations of emotional intelligence (EI) and emotional labor strategy with fatigue among Chinese doctors. This study aimed to examine whether or not emotional labor strategy mediates the association between EI and fatigue in this occupational group.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shenyang from March to April 2014. A set of self-administered questionnaires was distributed to 950 doctors, including Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and a 14-item emotional labor scale. Complete responses were obtained from 740 (77.9%) participants. Hierarchical linear regression was performed to examine the associations of EI and emotional labor strategies (surface acting, SA; deep acting, DA; natural acting, NA) with fatigue. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to examine the mediating roles of emotional labor strategies.

RESULTS

The mean score of fatigue was 8.02 (SD = 3.39). After adjusting for age, gender, marital status, job rank, monthly income, weekly working time, shift and department, EI was negatively associated with fatigue (β = - 0.270, P <  0.001). SA was positively associated with fatigue (β = 0.168, P <  0.001), whereas NA was negatively associated with fatigue (β = - 0.105, P = 0.004); however, DA was not significantly associated with fatigue (β = 0.034, P = 0.381). Thus, SA (a × b = - 0.026, BCa 95% CI: - 0.050, - 0.011) and NA (a × b = - 0.024, BCa 95% CI: - 0.046, - 0.006) significantly mediated the association between EI and fatigue, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a high level of fatigue among Chinese doctors. EI could indirectly reduce fatigue partially through modifying SA and NA strategies, respectively. EI intervention, education and training in emotional labor should be carried out to cope with fatigue.

Inteligencia emocional, optimismo y estrategias de afrontamiento en estudiantes universitarios

Este trabajo explora la relación entre la inteligencia emocional, el optimismo, las estrategias de afrontamiento, y el rendimiento académico, en una muestra de 170 estudiantes universitarios. A los participantes se les aplicó el Schutte Self Report Emotional Inteligence Scale (SSREI), el Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), y el Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). Los resultados indican correlaciones positivas entre la inteligencia emocional, el optimismo, y el uso de estrategias de afrontamiento basadas en la resolución de problemas. Por el contrario, no se encontraron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre la inteligencia emocional y el rendimiento académico. 

Fit to Perform: An Investigation of Higher Education Music Students' Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors toward Health

Making music at the highest international standards can be rewarding, but it is also challenging, with research highlighting pernicious ways in which practicing and performing can affect performers' health and wellbeing. Several studies indicate that music students' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors toward health and healthy living are less than optimal, especially considering the multiple physical and psychological demands of their day-to-day work. This article presents the results of a comprehensive screening protocol that investigated lifestyle and health-related attitudes and behaviors among 483 undergraduate and postgraduate students (mean age = 21.29 years ± 3.64; 59% women) from ten conservatoires. The protocol included questionnaires measuring wellbeing, general health, health-promoting behaviors, perfectionism, coping, sleep quality, and fatigue. On each measure, the data were compared with existing published data from similar age groups. The results indicate that music students have higher levels of wellbeing and lower fatigue than comparable samples outside of music. However, they also reveal potentially harmful perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors toward health. Specifically, engagement in health responsibility and stress management was low, which along with high perfectionistic strivings, limited use of coping strategies, poor sleep quality, and low self-rated health, paints a troubling picture both for the music students and for those who support their training. The findings point to the need for more (and more effective) health education and promotion initiatives within music education; in particular, musicians should be better equipped with mental skills to cope with constant pressure to excel and high stress levels. In part, this calls for musicians themselves to engage in healthier lifestyles, take greater responsibility for their own health, and be aware of and act upon health information in order to achieve and sustain successful practice and performance. For that to happen, however, music educators, administrators, and policy makers must play an active role in providing supportive environments where health and wellbeing is considered integral to expert music training.

A Study of Emotional Intelligence Among Postgraduate Medical Students in Delhi

Context: The importance of emotional intelligence (EI) in the successful practice of medicine has been well established. However, efforts to study the same in India, especially in doctors and medical students, are lacking. This study has measured the emotional intelligence of postgraduate medical students in Delhi and aimed to identify some of the factors affecting it.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study, using the Schutte's Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, to measure the EI of 200 postgraduate medical students of two medical colleges in Delhi. Students working in clinical specialties were selected randomly and contacted by the first author. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: The mean scores of EI among the study participants was 124.4 with a standard deviation of 12.8. The total scores possible in the scale range from 33 to 165, with higher scores representing higher EI. The age of the participants was positively associated with emotional intelligence (r = 0.187, p = 0.008). EI was also found to decrease with the increase in total workload (p=0.013), having night duty hours (p = 0.019), and having emergency duty (p = 0.037).  

Conclusions: More studies to measure the EI of doctors, the factors affecting it, and possible measures to improve it, are needed. The workload of the resident doctors needs to be assessed with appropriate changes made in the total work done and the quality of work done. 

Manifestations of Indirect Self-Destructiveness and Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence

While indirect self-destructiveness exerts a rather negative influence on the life and psychological and social functioning of the individual, emotional intelligence may have a favourable effect. The aim of this study has been to explore possible relationships between manifestations of indirect self-destructiveness and dimensions of emotional intelligence. A population of 260 individuals (130 females and 130 males) aged 20-30 (mean age of 24.5) was studied by using the Polish version of the Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale and INTE, i.e., the Polish version of the Assessing Emotions Scale. Manifestations of indirect self-destructiveness show many significant correlations with variables of the INTE, and those correlations are negative. Generally, it can be said that low emotional intelligence is associated with poor psychosocial and social functioning, which, in turn, is associated with indirect self-destructiveness and its manifestations. It seems advisable to use emotional intelligence in the prophylactic and therapeutic work with individuals suffering from various types of disorders, especially the syndrome of indirect self-destructiveness.

Happy Now, Tired Later? Extraverted and Conscientious Behavior Are Related to Immediate Mood Gains, but to Later Fatigue

OBJECTIVE

Experience sampling studies on Big Five-related behavior show that people display the whole spectrum of each trait in their daily behavior, and that desirable Big Five states-especially state Extraversion-are related to positive mood. However, other research lines suggest that extraverted and conscientious behavior may be mentally depleting. The present research examined this possibility by extending the time frame of the measured personality processes.

METHOD

A 12-day experience sampling study (N = 48; observations = 2,328) measured Big Five states, mood, stress, and fatigue five times a day.

RESULTS

Extraverted and conscientious behavior were concurrently related to positive mood and lower fatigue, but to higher fatigue after a 3-hour delay. These relations were not moderated by personality traits. The relation between extraverted behavior and delayed fatigue was mediated by the number of people the person had encountered. Whether the person had a goal mediated the relation between conscientious behavior and delayed fatigue.

CONCLUSION

Extraverted and conscientious behavior predict mental depletion after a 3-hour delay. The results help reconcile previous findings regarding the consequences of state Extraversion and provide novel information about the consequences of state Conscientiousness.

Parent and Child Independent Report of Emotional Responses to Asthma-Specific Vignettes: The Relationship Between Emotional States, Self-Management Behaviors, and Symptoms

Little is known about the emotional intelligence (EI) of parents and their children with asthma. Objectives of this study were to assess: 1) parent's and children's report of emotions in response to an asthma vignette (proxy for EI) and 2) the relationship between emotions, self-management behaviors, and symptoms.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a descriptive, mixed methods study of children 7-12 years old with asthma. Parent-Child dyads (n=104) responded to an asthma vignette to gain insight into emotions, symptoms, and self-management behaviors. Additional questions assessed confidence and worry using a 5-point Likert scale. Thematic analyses and descriptive statistics were used to assess qualitative and quantitative outcomes.

RESULTS

Children were predominantly male (58%), 7-9 (58%), and White (46%). The most common negative emotions reported by children were scared and sad. Children who sought help from an adult were less likely to report using medications compared to children who did not seek help (39.5% vs. 62.3%, p=.029). Children with low worry and high confidence had fewer symptoms compared to children reporting high worry and low confidence (symptoms: days 3.24 vs. 6.77, p=.012, nights 2.71 vs. 5.36, p=.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Children provided appropriate emotional responses to the asthma vignette; emotions were related to self-management behaviors and symptoms. More studies are needed to specifically assess EI in this population.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Parents and children with greater EI may be better able to understand their needs, engage in self-management behaviors, and communicate with their nurses, to improve their support network and ability to access services.

Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health: Stress and Symptom Reporting Pathways

This study examines the pathways through which mood perception affects perceived stress and symptom reporting among undergraduate students. It examines depression, anxiety, positive affect, and negative affect as mediators between a) emotional intelligence (EI) and b) perceived stress and symptom reporting. Results indicated that on the EI measure used in this study, the Trait Meta-mood Scale (TMMS) subscales, Attention was not related to perceived stress or symptom reporting. Mood Repair and Clarity were significantly and inversely related to perceived stress and symptom reporting. Anxiety and depression were the primary mediators in these relationships.

The effect of histidine on mental fatigue and cognitive performance in subjects with high fatigue and sleep disruption scores

Our previous study reported that a dried bonito broth known in Japan as 'dashi' improved or ameliorated mood states, including fatigue, during the daily lives of human subjects. Histidine is an amino acid that is present in dried bonito broth, and we sought to evaluate whether histidine would affect feelings of fatigue in humans. We investigated the effects of histidine intake on the feeling of fatigue, mood states and mental task performance by performing a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial. Twenty subjects with high fatigue and sleep disruption scores were asked to ingest histidine or a placebo every day for two weeks. The subjects' mood states were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale and a visual analog scale (VAS) for eight feelings (fatigue, depression, carelessness, drowsiness, clear thinking, motivation, attentiveness and concentration). We also measured subjects' cognitive performance using the CogHealth test battery. The fatigue T-scores on the POMS test decreased significantly following histidine ingestion compared to placebo ingestion (p<0.05). After two weeks of histidine ingestion, the reaction time for the working memory task in the CogHealth test battery was significantly shorten compared to placebo ingestion. The VAS scores for clear thinking and for attentiveness were increased significantly following histidine ingestion compared to placebo ingestion (p<0.05). These results suggest that daily ingestion of histidine may ameliorate feelings of fatigue, increase performance during working memory tasks, and improve the clear thinking and attentiveness.

Integrating emotion regulation and emotional intelligence traditions: a meta-analysis

Two relatively independent research traditions have developed that address emotion management. The first is the emotion regulation (ER) tradition, which focuses on the processes which permit individuals to influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express these emotions. The second is the emotional intelligence (EI) tradition, which focuses—among other things—on individual differences in ER. To integrate these two traditions, we employed the process model of ER (Gross, 1998b) to review the literature on EI. Two key findings emerged. First, high EI individuals shape their emotions from the earliest possible point in the emotion trajectory and have many strategies at their disposal. Second, high EI individuals regulate their emotions successfully when necessary but they do so flexibly, thereby leaving room for emotions to emerge. We argue that ER and EI traditions stand to benefit substantially from greater integration.

Do self-perceptions of emotional intelligence predict health-related quality of life? A case study in hospital managers in Greece

The aim of this study was to examine HRQoL outcome and EI of managers of Health Organizations. We collected data from 120 general managers of Greek public hospitals who completed the Assessing Emotions Scale (AES) and the SF-36 Health Survey.

The results showed that male managers generally exhibited better HRQoL and slightly worse EI than females, although differences were not significant throughout. The three EI factors of the AES addressing appraisal, optimism/regulation and utilization of emotions correlated from 0.18 to 0.39 with sub-dimensions of HRQoL mostly related to mental -rather than physical- aspects of health, and were also significant predictors of HRQoL.

There was a noteworthy gender difference in the manner in which EI predicted HRQoL and this suggests more testing. Overall, this study might enrich the potential for EI studies in Greece as well as to contribute to the international literature.

TIE: an ability test of emotional intelligence

The Test of Emotional Intelligence (TIE) is a new ability scale based on a theoretical model that defines emotional intelligence as a set of skills responsible for the processing of emotion-relevant information. Participants are provided with descriptions of emotional problems, and asked to indicate which emotion is most probable in a given situation, or to suggest the most appropriate action. Scoring is based on the judgments of experts: professional psychotherapists, trainers, and HR specialists. The validation study showed that the TIE is a reliable and valid test, suitable for both scientific research and individual assessment. Its internal consistency measures were as high as .88. In line with theoretical model of emotional intelligence, the results of the TIE shared about 10% of common variance with a general intelligence test, and were independent of major personality dimensions.

Liver hydrolysate assists in the recovery from physical fatigue in a mouse model

It is reported that liver hydrolysate (LH) enhances liver function. However, the effects of LH on physical fatigue are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LH on alterations in locomotor activity and energy metabolism such as 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), glycogen content, and blood lactic acid, after forced walking. Adult male ddY mice were used. Locomotor activity, AMPK phosphorylation, and glycogen content in the liver and soleus muscle, as well as blood lactic acid were determined following LH treatment before and/or after forced walking. The locomotor activity significantly decreased after forced walking for 3 h. Two administrations of LH (30 or 100 mg/kg) significantly increased the locomotor activity, while a single administration either before or after forced walking did not show any specific effect. Administering LH twice activated AMPK in the liver and soleus muscle. Glycogen levels significantly decreased in both the liver and soleus muscle after forced walking, whereas the blood lactate level significantly increased. In contrast, administering LH twice increased muscle glycogen and decreased blood lactic acid. These findings indicate that LH produced an anti-fatigue effect and that this effect appears to involve the efficient glycogen utilization through activation of AMPK.

Self-reported sleep correlates with prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity and emotional functioning

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Prior research suggests that sleep deprivation is associated with declines in some aspects of emotional intelligence and increased severity on indices of psychological disturbance. Sleep deprivation is also associated with reduced prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity, potentially reflecting impaired top-down modulation of emotion. It remains unknown whether this modified connectivity may be observed in relation to more typical levels of sleep curtailment. We examined whether self-reported sleep duration the night before an assessment would be associated with these effects.

DESIGN

Participants documented their hours of sleep from the previous night, completed the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

SETTING

Outpatient neuroimaging center at a private psychiatric hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-five healthy adults (33 men, 32 women), ranging in age from 18-45 y.

INTERVENTIONS

N/A.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Greater self-reported sleep the preceding night was associated with higher scores on all scales of the EQ-i but not the MSCEIT, and with lower symptom severity scores on half of the psychopathology scales of the PAI. Longer sleep was also associated with stronger negative functional connectivity between the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Moreover, greater negative connectivity between these regions was associated with higher EQ-i and lower symptom severity on the PAI.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported sleep duration from the preceding night was negatively correlated with prefrontal-amygdala connectivity and the severity of subjective psychological distress, while positively correlated with higher perceived emotional intelligence. More sleep was associated with higher emotional and psychological strength.

Physical and mental health perspectives of first year undergraduate rural university students

BACKGROUND

University students are often perceived to have a privileged position in society and considered immune to ill-health and disability. There is growing evidence that a sizeable proportion experience poor physical health, and that the prevalence of psychological disorders is higher in university students than their community peers. This study examined the physical and mental health issues for first year Australian rural university students and their perception of access to available health and support services.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study design using an online survey form based on the Adolescent Screening Questionnaire modeled on the internationally recognised HEADSS survey tool. The target audience was all first-year undergraduate students enrolled in an on-campus degree program. The response rate was 41% comprising 355 students (244 females, 111 males). Data was analysed using standard statistical techniques including descriptive and inferential statistics; and thematic analysis of the open-ended responses.

RESULTS

The mean age of the respondents was 20.2 years (SD 4.8). The majority of the students lived in on-campus residential college style accommodation, and a third combined part-time paid work with full-time study. Most students reported being in good physical health. However, on average two health conditions were reported over the past six months, with the most common being fatigue (56%), frequent headaches (26%) and allergies (24%). Mental health problems included anxiety (25%), coping difficulties (19.7%) and diagnosed depression (8%). Most respondents reported adequate access to medical doctors and support services for themselves (82%) and friends (78%). However the qualitative comments highlighted concerns about stigma, privacy and anonymity in seeking counselling.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study adds to the limited literature of physical and mental health issues as well as barriers to service utilization by rural university students. It provides useful baseline data for the development of customised support programs at rural campuses. Future research using a longitudinal research design and multi-site studies are recommended to facilitate a deeper understanding of health issues affecting rural university students.

Anti-fatigue Activity of Hovenia dulcis on a Swimming Mouse Model through the Inhibition of Stress Hormone Expression and Antioxidation

Hovenia dulcis (H. dulcis) Thunb., which is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan, has been known to show hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging effects and enhance physical activity. Therefore, the objectives of this present study were to determine the anti-fatigue activity of hot-water extract from H. dulcis peduncle, and to find the reason why H. dulcis extract (HDE)-ingested mice had enhanced physical activity against swimming performance. The mice orally administrated with HDE (HDE-mice) dramatically enhanced their swimming time compared to the control mice. HDE significantly decreased serum levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in mice. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were dramatically decreased in gastrocnemius muscle from both 100 mg/kg of HDE (LHDE) and 200 mg/kg of HDE (HHDE)-ingested mice compared to the control mice. The liver activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased in HHDE-mice with increasing tendency in LHDE-mice. In addition, HHDE-mice significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol (T-Chol), and triglyceride (TG). These results suggest that HDE had a significant anti-fatigue effect via its anti-stress and antioxidant activities, and thereby enhanced physical activity in swimming performance.

Trait Emotional Intelligence and University Graduation Outcomes

This study explored the utility of trait emotional intelligence (EI) for predicting students’ university graduation outcomes six years after enrolment in university. At the start of the program, 1,015 newly registered students completed a brief multidimensional self-report EI assessment and provided consent to track their subsequent degree progress via official university records. Using latent profile analysis (LPA), participants were sorted into five classes that differed in the overall EI level and in the relative strengths and weaknesses on individual EI dimensions. Greater likelihood of degree noncompletion at the 6-year follow-up was uniquely associated with having a low-EI profile with particularly pronounced weaknesses in the interpersonal and stress management domains, after controlling for high school grades and gender. Comparative levels of predictive utility could not be achieved by examining scores on each EI dimension independently. Authors discuss practical advantages of LPA over traditional variable-centered approaches for identifying and assisting students at risk for degree noncompletion.

The role of cognitive, emotional and personality factors in the experience of fatigue in a university and community sample

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of cognitive, emotional and personality factors to the experience of fatigue severity in healthy adult individuals. Specifically, the study examined whether fatigue catastrophising and emotional distress mediated the relationships between neuroticism, general irrational and rational thoughts to fatigue severity. One hundred and eighty nine university students and community volunteers completed self-report questionnaires assessing fatigue catastrophising and symptom severity, neuroticism, general rational and irrational thoughts and emotional distress. A series of correlational and path analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses. Neuroticism and more general negative, irrational cognitions were associated with elevated fatigue catastrophising and fatigue severity, whereas more adaptive, rational cognitions were related to lower fatigue catastrophising and fatigue severity. Both elevated fatigue catastrophising and emotional distress uniquely and simultaneously mediated the relationships between irrational and rational cognitions and neuroticism to fatigue severity. These findings demonstrate that cognitions play a role in fatigue severity. The results have implications in the assessment and treatment of fatigue disturbances in the general community.

Triterpenoid-Rich Extract from Antrodia camphorata Improves Physical Fatigue and Exercise Performance in Mice

Antrodia camphorata (AC) is an endemic mushroom that grows in Taiwan. We investigated the fatigue-alleviating effects of AC on endurance capacity in swim-exercised and weight-loading mice. Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) strain mice from 3 groups (n = 10 per group in each test) were orally administered AC fruiting body extract for 7 days at 0, 50, and 200 mg/kg/day, designated vehicle, AC-50, and AC-200, respectively. Trend analysis revealed that AC treatments increased grip strength. AC dose-dependently increased swim time, blood glucose, and muscular and hepatic glycogen levels and dose-dependently decreased plasma lactate and ammonia levels and creatine kinase activity. The increase in swimming endurance with AC administration was caused by an increase in liver and muscle glycogen deposition. A. camphorata may have potential for use in ergogenic and antifatigue activities.

Control cognitions and causal attributions as predictors of fatigue severity in a community sample

Control cognitions and causal attributions of fatigue were examined in relation to Weiner's Causal Attribution theory in a community sample. Participants were 97 females and 43 males, aged 18-83 years. Weiner's dimensions of stability and uncontrollability and physical and psychosocial attributions of fatigue were related to fatigue severity. Escape-avoidance coping mediated between psychosocial causal attributions of fatigue to fatigue; whereas planful problem-solving and exercise moderated between stability cognitions to fatigue and psychosocial attributions of fatigue to fatigue, respectively. This, the cause(s) of fatigue were perceived as stable, uncontrollable, and involving physical and psychosocial factors, participants reported worse fatigue. Taken together, the results suggest that fatigue treatments may be most effective when they are tailored or matched to the belief systems of the individuals with fatigue.

A sociocognitive approach to service quality and adherence amongst elderly patients: a pilot study

This article examines the relationship between patients' perceptions of emotional intelligence (EI), health competence, service quality, and adherence behavior in the Home Medicines Review (HMR) setting. Participants were purposively recruited from different urban and regional areas in Australia and qualitative data were obtained from in-depth interviews with 20 HMR patients. Service quality is conceptualized from a sociocognitive perspective by incorporating psycho-socio factors such as EI and health competence as moderators to overall service quality and adherence. The findings suggest that EI and health competence influence patient perceptions of service quality and nonadherence at multiple levels of abstraction. Implications are that staff training and development programs that incorporate EI could improve service delivery which could increase patient perceptions of service quality and adherence. Designing intervention initiatives aimed at increasing patient awareness and education of their health conditions could also improve service quality perceptions and adherence behavior.