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. 21];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

References

Dasor MM, Jafridin AA, Azhar AA, Asma AAA, Manivannan PC, Bilal S, et al. Emotional Intelligence, Depression, Stress and Anxiety Amongst Undergraduate Dental Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Public Health. 2023; 68:1604383.

Phu DH, Maneerattanasak S, Shohaimi S, Trang LTT, Nam TT, Kuning M, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with long COVID and mental health status among recovered COVID-19 patients in southern Thailand. PLOS ONE. 2023;18(7):e0289382.

Suwanbamrung C, Pongtalung P, Trang LTT, Phu DH, Nam TT. Levels and risk factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among COVID-19 infected adults after hospital discharge in a Southern Province of Thailand. Journal of Public Health and Development. 2022;21(1):72-89. doi: 10.55131/jphd/2023/210106

Trang LTT, Ngoc Le C, Chutipatana N, Shohaimi S, Suwanbamrung C. Prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among recovered COVID-19 patients in Vietnam. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2023; 74(2):217-30.

Son C, Hegde S, Smith A, Wang X, Sasangohar F. Effects of COVID-19 on College Students' Mental Health in the United States: Interview Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(9):e21279.

Ma Z, Zhao J, Li Y, Chen D, Wang T, Zhang Z, et al. Mental health problems and correlates among 746 217 college students during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2020;29:e181.

Salovey P, Mayer JD. Emotional Intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality. 1990;9(3):185-211.

Bru-Luna LM, Martí-Vilar M, Merino-Soto C, Cervera-Santiago JL. Emotional Intelligence Measures: A Systematic Review. Healthcare. 2021;9(12):1696. doi: 10.3390/ healthcare9121696

Hussein AR, Acquah EO, Musah MB. Testing the Cross-Cultural Validity of Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) Scale. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 2019;9(12):835–847.

Weerasinghe G, Patabendige P, Thuduwage S, Arumapperumachchi P, Walpita Gamage C, Hettigoda K. The Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (Sseit) for Use Among Nursing Students in a Defence University, Sri Lanka. KDU Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. 2023;5(1): 145-151. doi: 10.4038/kjms.v5i1.71

Morales-Rodríguez FM, Espigares-López I, Brown T, Pérez-Mármol JM. The Relationship between Psychological Well-Being and Psychosocial Factors in University Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(13):4778. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134778

Khorasani EC, Ardameh M, Sany SBT, Tehrani H, Ghavami V, Gholian-Aval M. The influence of emotional intelligence on academic stress among medical students in Neyshabur, Iran. BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23(1):848. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05344-0

Wells J, Watson K, R ED, Siraj AQS, J RM, Verma A, et al. Associations among Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Emotional Intelligence among Veterinary Medicine Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(8): 3934. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18083934

Doyle N, Davis R, Quadri S, Mann J, Sharma M, Wardrop R, et al. Associations between stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional intelligence among osteopathic medical students. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2021;121(2): 125-133. doi: 10.1515/jom-2020-0171

Shahini M, Telaku N, Sopjani I, Kamberi M, Fetahu D, Murtezaj D. Emotional intelligence as a protective factor against mental health problems of health workers. Population Medicine. 2023;5(December):32. doi: 10.18332/popmed/176215

Yco J, Gonzaga A, Cervantes J, Goc-Ong G, Padios H, Tus J. Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health of Senior High School Students: A Correlational Study. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. 2023;11(2):629-633.

Pham Tien N, Pham Thanh T, Nguyen Hanh D, Duong Hoang A, Bui Dang The A, Kim Bao G, … Hoang Van M. Utilization of mental health services among university students in Vietnam. International Journal of Mental Health. 2020;50(2):113-135. doi: 10.1080/ 00207411.2020.1816114

Kieu TTT. Depression, anxiety and stress among students in Ho Chi Minh city. The 5th International Conference on Child Mental Health in Vietnam. Vietnam; 2019. Hanoi: Vietnam National University (VNU) 2019;98-104.

Tran TD, Tran T, Fisher J. Validation of the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS) 21 as a screening instrument for depression and anxiety in a rural community-based cohort of northern Vietnamese women. BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:24. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-24

Linh HTK. Relationships Between Emotional Intelligence and Health Mental Health among Nursing Students of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh city during COVID-19 pandemic. Ho Chi Minh city: University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh city; 2022.

Kavvadas D, Kavvada A, Karachrysafi S, Papaliagkas V, Cheristanidis S, Chatzidimitriou M, Papamitsou T. Stress, Anxiety and Depression Prevalence among Greek University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Year Survey. J Clin Med. 2022;11(15):4263. doi: 10.3390/jcm 11154263.

Chang J, Yuan Y, Wang D. [Mental health status and its influencing factors among college students during the epidemic of COVID-19]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2020;40(2):171-176. Chinese. doi: 10.12122/j.issn. 1673-4254.2020.02.06

Chen X, Kim H. The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health, and the English Achievement of College Students Based on Big Data Statistical Analysis. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies. 2024;19(1):1-16. doi: 10.4018/ IJWLTT.338716

Edussuriya D, Perera S, Marambe K, Wijesiriwardena Y, Ekanayake K. The associates of Emotional Intelligence in medical students: A systematic review. The Asia Pacific Scholar. 2022;7. doi: 10.29060/TAPS.2022-7-4/OA2714

Browning MHEM, Larson LR, Sharaievska I, Rigolon A, McAnirlin O, Mullenbach L, Cloutier S, Vu TM, Thomsen J, Reigner N, Metcalf EC, D'Antonio A, Helbich M, Bratman GN, Alvarez HO. Correction: Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0273938. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273938

General Statistics Office. Area, population and population density by province 2023 [Internet]. [Cited 2024 March 26]. Available from: https:// www.gso.gov.vn/en/px-web/?pxid= E0201&theme=Population%20and%20Employment.

Hang CTT. Status of Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Some Related Factors in Students of Dong Thap Medical College in 2018. Ha Noi: Ha Noi University of Public Health; 2018.

Henry JD, Crawford JR. The short-form version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21): construct validity and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. Br J Clin Psychol. 2005;44(Pt 2):227-239. doi: 10.1348/ 014466505X29657

Schutte NS, Malouff JM, Hall LE, Haggerty DJ, Cooper JT, Golden CJ, Dornheim L. Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences. 1998;25(2):167-177.

Loan BT, Hengudomsub P, Chaimongkol N. Factors Related to Mental Health among Vietnamese Nursing Students. Thai Pharmaceutical and Health Science Journal. 2015; 10(4):173-183.

Hai NT, Thi HL, Tran Cong HT, Thi VT, Hua Thi LO, Vo Le TT, Thi NP, Do Thi TM, Nguyen Thi TH, Thi Quynh VC, Vinh Pham PT, My TT. Investigating Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Nursing Students During Remote Learning: An Experience from Dong A University, Vietnam. SAGE Open Nurs. 2022;8:23779608221135437. doi: 10.1177/23779608221135437

Córdova Olivera P, Gasser Gordillo P, Naranjo Mejía H, La Fuente Taborga I, Grajeda Chacón A, Sanjinés Unzueta A. Academic stress as a predictor of mental health in university students. Cogent Education. 2023;10(2). doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2023.2232686

Budler LC, Gosak L, Vrbnjak D, Pajnkihar M, Štiglic G. Emotional Intelligence among Nursing Students: Findings from a Longitudinal Study. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(10):2032. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10102032

Snowden A, Stenhouse R, Young J, Carver H, Carver F, Brown N. The relationship between emotional intelligence, previous caring experience and mindfulness in student nurses and midwives: a cross sectional analysis. Nurse Educ Today. 2015;35(1):152-158. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2014.09.004

Foster K, Fethney J, McKenzie H, Fisher M, Harkness E, Kozlowski D. Emotional intelligence increases over time: A longitudinal study of Australian pre-registration nursing students. Nurse Educ Today. 2017;55:65-70. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2017.05.008

Liu H, Boyatzis RE. Focusing on Resilience and Renewal From Stress: The Role of Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies. Front Psychol. 2021;12:685829. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.685829

Sugiura G, Shinada K, Kawaguchi Y. Psychological well-being and perceptions of stress amongst Japanese dental students. Eur J Dent Educ. 2005;9(1):17-25.

Mayor E. Gender roles and traits in stress and health. Front Psychol. 2015;6:779. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015. 00779

Cholankeril R, Xiang E, Badr H. Gender Differences in Coping and Psychological Adaptation during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(2):993. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20020993

Matud M. Gender differences in stress and coping styles. Personality and Individual Differences. 2004;37(7): 1401-1415. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2004. 01.010

McLean CP, Asnaani A, Litz BT, Hofmann SG. Gender differences in anxiety disorders: prevalence, course of illness, comorbidity and burden of illness. J Psychiatr Res. 2011;45(8): 1027-1035. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires. 2011.03.006

Farhane-Medina NZ, Luque B, Tabernero C, Castillo-Mayén R. Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review. Sci Prog. 2022;105(4):00368504221135469. doi: 10.1177/00368504221135469