Association between emotional intelligence and mental health status based on sex differences among undergraduates in Vietnam 10.55131/jphd/2024/220308

Main Article Content

Nghia Hieu Vo
My Tu Diep
Nhan Trong Pham
Linh Ngoc Huynh
Uyen Thi To Nguyen
Trang Thanh Thao Le
Phu Hoang Doan
Nam Thanh Truong

Abstract

Public health concerns about mental health problems have recently received attention, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a significant factor linked to mental health status, including depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS), with sex playing a significant role in both DAS and EI status. This study aimed to describe DAS and EI status and assess sex differences in the associations between EI and DAS among undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted across three educational institutions in Dong Thap province, southern Vietnam, using the validated Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify correlations between DAS and EI, and the sex differences in the associations between DAS and the four SSEIT constructs - emotion perception (EP), utilizing emotion (UE), managing self-relevant emotion (MSE), and managing others' emotion (MOE) - were examined using linear regression models. Among the 674 participants, 51.6% experienced mental health problems (64.1% for females, 35.9% for males), 47.0% experienced anxiety, 32.5% experienced depression, and 27.4% experienced stress. The average EI score was 119.3 ± 18.9 (120.0 ± 19.1 for females, 118.0 ± 18.5 for males), with 58.9% of participants having normal EI, while 29.2% and 11.9% had low and high EI, respectively. Negative correlations were observed between EI scores and depression (R=-0.16, p<0.001) and anxiety (R=-0.09, p=0.020), especially among females. Findings indicated that MSE showed significant associations with DAS, especially in females (all β<-0.318, all p<0.001). Our study highlights the importance of considering sex in mental health prevention programs targeting EI skills to manage students' self-relevant emotions better.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Vo NH, Diep MT, Pham NT, Huynh LN, Nguyen UTT, Le TTT, Doan PH, Truong NT. Association between emotional intelligence and mental health status based on sex differences among undergraduates in Vietnam: 10.55131/jphd/2024/220308. J Public Hlth Dev [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 9 [cited 2024 Nov. 5];22(3):85-99. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/AIHD-MU/article/view/270601
Section
Original Articles
Author Biographies

Nghia Hieu Vo, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Dong Thap province, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Dong Thap province, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam.

My Tu Diep, Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

Nhan Trong Pham, Office of Student Affairs, Dong Thap University, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Office of Student Affairs, Dong Thap University, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Linh Ngoc Huynh, Faculty of Medicine, Ca Mau Medical College, Ca Mau 98000, Vietnam

Faculty of Medicine, Ca Mau Medical College, Ca Mau 98000, Vietnam

Uyen Thi To Nguyen, Faculty of Basic Science and Public Health, Dong Thap Medical College, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Faculty of Basic Science and Public Health, Dong Thap Medical College, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Trang Thanh Thao Le, Faculty of Basic Science and Public Health, Dong Thap Medical College, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Faculty of Basic Science and Public Health, Dong Thap Medical College, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam

Phu Hoang Doan, Department of Infectious Disease and Veterinary Public Health, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

Department of Infectious Disease and Veterinary Public Health, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

Nam Thanh Truong, Faculty of Public Health, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho City 94000, Vietnam

Faculty of Public Health, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho City 94000, Vietnam

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