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INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MENTAL HEALTH (DISTRESS) AMONG MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Year 2016, Volume: 2 Issue: 5, 492 - 500, 26.08.2016

Roxana Omar Dev Amir Rifaat Abdul Rahman

https://doi.org/10.18769/ijasos.95534
Cited By: 2

Abstract

University students typically enter a dynamic transitional period of new independence from their parents that are characterized by many factors. These factors such as social, financial, and environment can be a burden and puts them at risk of mental health distress. Engaging in physical activity has proved to give benefits to mental health. However, not many university students are active during their years at the university. Few psychosocial factors such as emotional intelligence were seen to increased students physical activity and decrease mental distress. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to see whether emotional intelligence can mediate the relationship between physical activity and mental health (distress) among university students at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. A correlation study with path analysis was conducted on 266 students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Few instruments were used such as International Physical Activity Questionnaire SF (IPAQ-SF), General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) was used in this study. Path analysis was used to explore association between these aspects. Physical activity, mental health distress and emotional intelligence were significantly correlated and emotional intelligence showed partial mediation effect towards the relationship between physical activity and mental health distress (p<0.00). Thus, there was an association between physical activity with mental health distress, and emotional intelligence partially mediated this relationship. We interpret these novel data to suggest that physical activity can boost mental health and these physical activity-associated of emotional intelligence relevantly gives benefits in mental health. Such data have important implications for both health practice and policy especially in higher education institutions.

Keywords: Emotional intelligence, physical activity, mental health, undergraduate students.

Keywords

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References

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173.
  • Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., Pratt, M., Ekelund, U., Yngve, A., Sallis, J. F., & Oja, P. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 195 (9131/03), 3508-1381.
  • Bostani, M., & Saiiari, A. (2011). Comparison emotional intelligence and mental health between athletic and non-athletic students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 2259-2263.
  • Buckworth, J., & Nigg, C. (2004). Physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behavior in college students. Journal of American College Health, 53(1), 28-34.
  • Chu, A. H. Y., & Moy, F. M. (2015). Reliability and validity of the Malay International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-M) among a Malay population in Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(2), 2381-2389.
  • Cooley, E., Toray, T., Valdez, N., & Tee, M. (2007). Risk factors for maladaptive eating patterns in college women. Eating and Weight Disorders, 12(3), 132-139.
  • Eisenberg, D., Gollust, S.E., Golberstein, E., & Hefner, J.L. (2007). Prevlence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among university students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 534-542.
  • Hari, K. (2011). Emotional Intelligence of Malaysian Youth. Malaysian Journal of Youth Studies, 5, 143-164.
  • Hassan, S. A., & Shabani, J. (2013). The mediating role of emotional intelligence between spiritual intelligence and mental health problems among Iranian adolescents. Psychological Studies, 58(1), 73-79.
  • Jamaiyah, H. (2000). Community mental health in Malaysia: Marriage of psychiatry and public health. Jurnal Kesihatan Masyarakat, 6(S), 155-166.
  • Jewett, R., Sabiston, C. M., Brunet, J., O'Loughlin, E. K., Scarapicchia, T., & O'Loughlin, J. (2014). School sport participation during adolescence and mental health in early adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(5), 640-644.
  • Johnson, S. J., Batey, M., & Holdsworth, L. (2009). Personality and health: The mediating role of Trait Emotional Intelligence and Work Locus of Control. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(5), 470-475. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.04.025
  • Keefer, K. V., Parker, J. D. A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2009). Emotional intelligence and physical health. In C. Stough, D. H. Saklofske & J. D. A. Parker (Eds.). Assessing emotional intelligence: Theory, research, and applications (pp. 191-218). New York: Springer.
  • Kubaisy, W. A., Mohamad, M., Ismail, Z., & Abdullah, N. N. (2015). Gender differences: Motivations for performing physical exercise among adults in Shah Alam. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 202, 522-530. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.08.181
  • Li, G. S.-F., Lu, F. J. H., & Wang, A. H.-H. (2009). Exploring the relationships of physical activity, emotional intelligence and health in Taiwan college students. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 7(1), 55-63. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1728-869X(09)60008-3
  • Lougheed, J. P., & Hollenstein, T. (2012). A limited repertoire of emotion regulation strategies is associated with internalizing problems in adolescence. Social Development, 21(4), 704-721.
  • Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., Caruso, D. R., & Sitarenios, G. (2001). Emotional intelligence as a standard intelligence. Emotion, 232-242.
  • McPhie, M. L., & Rawana, J. S. (2015). The effect of physical activity on depression in adolescence and emerging adulthood: A growth-curve analysis. Journal of Adolescence, 40, 83-92.
  • Ministry of Malaysia in Health. (2014). More mental health issues soon. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/08/17/More-mental-health-issues-soon-Ministry-More-Msians-expected-to-suffer-in-future/. Accessed 12 April 2016.
  • Monica, G. (2014). Study on the importance of physical education in fighting stress and a sedentary lifestyle among students at the University of Bucharest. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 117, 104-109.
  • National Health and Morbidity Survey. (2011). National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011. http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/file_manager/dl_item/554756755a584a69615852686269394859584a70637942515957356b645746754c31426c626d6431636e567a595734675330567a615768686447467549435967613246335957786862694277655774706443394559584a70494556754c6c7068615735315a476c7549454a4c5543387a636d5176546b684e553138794d44457858305a425131526655306846525651756347526d. Accessed 23 March 2016.
  • Pourmohamadreza-Tajrishi, M., Ashori, M., & Jalilabkenar, S. S. (2013). The Effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on the mental health of male deaf students. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 42(10), 1174-1180.
  • Richardson, C. R., Faulkner, G., McDevitt, J., Skrinar, G. S., Hutchinson, D. S., & Piette, J. D. (2014). Integrating physical activity into mental health services for persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 56 (3), 324-331.
  • Roxana Dev, O. D., Ismi Arif, I., Maria Chong, A., & Soh Kim, G. (2014). Emotional intelligence as an underlying psychological mechanism on physical activity among Malaysian adolescents. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 19,166-171.
  • Roxana Dev, O. D., Ismi Arif, I., Mohd Sofian, O.-F., Maria Chong, A., & Soh Kim, G. (2012). Emotional intelligence as a potential underlying mechanism for physical activity among Malaysian adults. American Journal of Health Sciences (AJHS), 3(3), 211-222.
  • Saklofske, D. H., Austin, E. J., Rohr, B. A., & Andrews, J. J. (2007). Personality, emotional intelligence and exercise. Journal of Health Psychology, 12(6), 937-948.
  • Saleem, S. & Mahmood, Z. (2013). Mental health problems in university students: A prevalence study. Journal of Social Sciences, 7(2), 124-130.
  • Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185-211.
  • Schutte, N. S., & Malouff, J. M. (2011). Emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between mindfulness and subjective well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(7), 1116-1119.
  • Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167-177.
  • Shamsuddin, K., Fadzil, F., Ismail, W. S. W., Shah, S. A., Omar, K., Muhammad, N. A., ... Mahadevan, R. (2013). Correlates of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian university students. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 6(4), 318-323.
  • Sowers, K. M., Rowe, W. S., & Clay, J. R. (2009). The intersection between physical health and mental health: A global perspective. Journal of evidence-based social work, 6(1), 111-126.
  • Taylor, G. J. (2001). Low emotional intelligence and mental illness. In J. Ciarrochi, & J. P. Forgas (Eds.), Emotional Intelligence in everyday life: a scientific inquiry.(PP.67-81). Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.
  • Tsaousis, I., & Nikolaou, I. (2005). Exploring the relationship of emotional intelligence with physical and psychological health functioning. Stress and Health, 21(2), 77-86.
  • World Health Organization. (2010). Global recommendations on physical activity for health. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599979_eng.pdf. Accessed 30 January 2016.
  • World Health Organization. (2011). Malaysia Mental Health Country profiles. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/
  • atlas/profiles /en/. Accessed 6 February 2016.

Year 2016, Volume: 2 Issue: 5, 492 - 500, 26.08.2016

Roxana Omar Dev Amir Rifaat Abdul Rahman

https://doi.org/10.18769/ijasos.95534
Cited By: 2

Abstract

References

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173.
  • Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., Pratt, M., Ekelund, U., Yngve, A., Sallis, J. F., & Oja, P. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 195 (9131/03), 3508-1381.
  • Bostani, M., & Saiiari, A. (2011). Comparison emotional intelligence and mental health between athletic and non-athletic students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 2259-2263.
  • Buckworth, J., & Nigg, C. (2004). Physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behavior in college students. Journal of American College Health, 53(1), 28-34.
  • Chu, A. H. Y., & Moy, F. M. (2015). Reliability and validity of the Malay International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-M) among a Malay population in Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(2), 2381-2389.
  • Cooley, E., Toray, T., Valdez, N., & Tee, M. (2007). Risk factors for maladaptive eating patterns in college women. Eating and Weight Disorders, 12(3), 132-139.
  • Eisenberg, D., Gollust, S.E., Golberstein, E., & Hefner, J.L. (2007). Prevlence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among university students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 534-542.
  • Hari, K. (2011). Emotional Intelligence of Malaysian Youth. Malaysian Journal of Youth Studies, 5, 143-164.
  • Hassan, S. A., & Shabani, J. (2013). The mediating role of emotional intelligence between spiritual intelligence and mental health problems among Iranian adolescents. Psychological Studies, 58(1), 73-79.
  • Jamaiyah, H. (2000). Community mental health in Malaysia: Marriage of psychiatry and public health. Jurnal Kesihatan Masyarakat, 6(S), 155-166.
  • Jewett, R., Sabiston, C. M., Brunet, J., O'Loughlin, E. K., Scarapicchia, T., & O'Loughlin, J. (2014). School sport participation during adolescence and mental health in early adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(5), 640-644.
  • Johnson, S. J., Batey, M., & Holdsworth, L. (2009). Personality and health: The mediating role of Trait Emotional Intelligence and Work Locus of Control. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(5), 470-475. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.04.025
  • Keefer, K. V., Parker, J. D. A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2009). Emotional intelligence and physical health. In C. Stough, D. H. Saklofske & J. D. A. Parker (Eds.). Assessing emotional intelligence: Theory, research, and applications (pp. 191-218). New York: Springer.
  • Kubaisy, W. A., Mohamad, M., Ismail, Z., & Abdullah, N. N. (2015). Gender differences: Motivations for performing physical exercise among adults in Shah Alam. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 202, 522-530. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.08.181
  • Li, G. S.-F., Lu, F. J. H., & Wang, A. H.-H. (2009). Exploring the relationships of physical activity, emotional intelligence and health in Taiwan college students. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 7(1), 55-63. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1728-869X(09)60008-3
  • Lougheed, J. P., & Hollenstein, T. (2012). A limited repertoire of emotion regulation strategies is associated with internalizing problems in adolescence. Social Development, 21(4), 704-721.
  • Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., Caruso, D. R., & Sitarenios, G. (2001). Emotional intelligence as a standard intelligence. Emotion, 232-242.
  • McPhie, M. L., & Rawana, J. S. (2015). The effect of physical activity on depression in adolescence and emerging adulthood: A growth-curve analysis. Journal of Adolescence, 40, 83-92.
  • Ministry of Malaysia in Health. (2014). More mental health issues soon. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/08/17/More-mental-health-issues-soon-Ministry-More-Msians-expected-to-suffer-in-future/. Accessed 12 April 2016.
  • Monica, G. (2014). Study on the importance of physical education in fighting stress and a sedentary lifestyle among students at the University of Bucharest. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 117, 104-109.
  • National Health and Morbidity Survey. (2011). National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011. http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/file_manager/dl_item/554756755a584a69615852686269394859584a70637942515957356b645746754c31426c626d6431636e567a595734675330567a615768686447467549435967613246335957786862694277655774706443394559584a70494556754c6c7068615735315a476c7549454a4c5543387a636d5176546b684e553138794d44457858305a425131526655306846525651756347526d. Accessed 23 March 2016.
  • Pourmohamadreza-Tajrishi, M., Ashori, M., & Jalilabkenar, S. S. (2013). The Effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on the mental health of male deaf students. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 42(10), 1174-1180.
  • Richardson, C. R., Faulkner, G., McDevitt, J., Skrinar, G. S., Hutchinson, D. S., & Piette, J. D. (2014). Integrating physical activity into mental health services for persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 56 (3), 324-331.
  • Roxana Dev, O. D., Ismi Arif, I., Maria Chong, A., & Soh Kim, G. (2014). Emotional intelligence as an underlying psychological mechanism on physical activity among Malaysian adolescents. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 19,166-171.
  • Roxana Dev, O. D., Ismi Arif, I., Mohd Sofian, O.-F., Maria Chong, A., & Soh Kim, G. (2012). Emotional intelligence as a potential underlying mechanism for physical activity among Malaysian adults. American Journal of Health Sciences (AJHS), 3(3), 211-222.
  • Saklofske, D. H., Austin, E. J., Rohr, B. A., & Andrews, J. J. (2007). Personality, emotional intelligence and exercise. Journal of Health Psychology, 12(6), 937-948.
  • Saleem, S. & Mahmood, Z. (2013). Mental health problems in university students: A prevalence study. Journal of Social Sciences, 7(2), 124-130.
  • Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185-211.
  • Schutte, N. S., & Malouff, J. M. (2011). Emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between mindfulness and subjective well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(7), 1116-1119.
  • Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167-177.
  • Shamsuddin, K., Fadzil, F., Ismail, W. S. W., Shah, S. A., Omar, K., Muhammad, N. A., ... Mahadevan, R. (2013). Correlates of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian university students. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 6(4), 318-323.
  • Sowers, K. M., Rowe, W. S., & Clay, J. R. (2009). The intersection between physical health and mental health: A global perspective. Journal of evidence-based social work, 6(1), 111-126.
  • Taylor, G. J. (2001). Low emotional intelligence and mental illness. In J. Ciarrochi, & J. P. Forgas (Eds.), Emotional Intelligence in everyday life: a scientific inquiry.(PP.67-81). Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.
  • Tsaousis, I., & Nikolaou, I. (2005). Exploring the relationship of emotional intelligence with physical and psychological health functioning. Stress and Health, 21(2), 77-86.
  • World Health Organization. (2010). Global recommendations on physical activity for health. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599979_eng.pdf. Accessed 30 January 2016.
  • World Health Organization. (2011). Malaysia Mental Health Country profiles. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/
  • atlas/profiles /en/. Accessed 6 February 2016.
There are 37 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Roxana Omar Dev

Amir Rifaat Abdul Rahman

Publication Date August 26, 2016
Submission Date August 24, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2016Volume: 2 Issue: 5

Cite

EndNote Omar Dev R, Abdul Rahman AR (August 1, 2016) INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MENTAL HEALTH (DISTRESS) AMONG MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences 2 5 492–500.

Cited By

Emotional Intelligence Online Learning and its Impact on University Students’ Mental Health: A Quasi-Experimental Investigation
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.2.13
Physical activity and emotional intelligence among undergraduate students: a correlational study
BMC Public Health
Jorge Acebes-Sánchez
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7576-5

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