Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to explore the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and specific facets that may underpin the aetiology of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, as a means to understand what aspects of these deficits to target within treatments.MethodsParticipants were recruited from the UK and Ireland. Among the sample of 355 participants, 84% were women and 16% were men. Regarding age, 59% were between 18 and 29, 30% were between 30 and 49, and 11% were 50 or older. Using a cross-sectional design, participants completed the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test to measure levels of trait EI and The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) as a measure of eating disorder risk and the presence of disordered eating attitudes.ResultsEAT-26 scores were negatively correlated with total EI scores and with the following EI subscales: appraisal of own emotions, regulation of emotions, utilisation of emotions, and optimism. Also, compared to those without an eating disorder history, participants who reported having had an eating disorder had significantly lower total EI scores and lower scores on four EI subscales: appraisal of others emotions, appraisal of own emotions, regulation of emotions, and optimism.ConclusionsConsidering these findings, EI (especially appraisal of own emotions, regulation of emotions, and optimism) may need to be addressed by interventions and treatments for eating disorders.Level of evidenceLevel V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
Highlights
Salovey and Mayer [1] described emotional intelligence (EI) as: “...the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth.” (p. 5).Studies have shown that psychological health is related to an individual’s emotional competencies and functioning [2]
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity (2019) 24:299–306 and able to manage and effectively regulate emotional states and engage with adaptive problem solving [4]. Those who are low in EI are unable to effectively understand, regulate and control their emotions, will be less effective in coping suggesting that they are more likely to engage in maladaptive coping or emotional regulation strategies [5]
There was no significant difference in EAT-26 scores between those who had treatment for their eating disorder and those who had no treatment
Summary
Salovey and Mayer [1] described emotional intelligence (EI) as: “...the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth.” (p. 5).Studies have shown that psychological health is related to an individual’s emotional competencies and functioning [2]. Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity (2019) 24:299–306 and able to manage and effectively regulate emotional states and engage with adaptive problem solving [4]. Those who are low in EI are unable to effectively understand, regulate and control their emotions, will be less effective in coping suggesting that they are more likely to engage in maladaptive coping or emotional regulation strategies [5]. This has been shown across studies in which participants with low levels of EI have been found to be more likely to engage in maladaptive health behaviours as an attempt to seek alternative methods of mood control and emotional expression such as smoking [6], alcohol use [7] and self-harm behaviours [8]
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