Syeda Shahida Batool, Ruhi Khalid.
Low emotional intelligence: a risk factor for depression.
J Pak Psych Soc Jan ;6(2):65-72.

Objective: To assess the relationship between emotional intelligence and depression. Design: Correlational study Place and duration of study: The data was collected from outpatient department of psychiatry at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore and different institutes of Lahore city (Punjab University; National Bank, Garden Town branch & In-service Training College for the Teachers of Disabled Children) from June to September 2008. Subjects and Methods: The sample consisted of 30 diagnosed patients of depression, and 40 aged matched controls. Depression was measured with Beck’s Depression Inventory and emotional intelligence was measured with indigenous scale of emotional intelligence. Results: Initial analysis illustrated that there was no significant relationship between demographic variables and depression. Significant gender difference came into view (t = -2.80, 2.85; p < .05) consecutively in emotional intelligence and depression. Total emotional intelligence and its components showed significant inverse correlation with depression (rs = -.803, -.726, -.855, -.572, -.557, -.651, -.662, -.664, -.758, -.701, -.666; p < .01). Emotional intelligence emerged as a potential predictive factor as 64% of variance in depression was accounted for by total emotional intelligence. Two out of ten components of emotional intelligence appeared as salient predictors of depression as 77 % of the variance in depression was accounted for by self regard and problem solving in a stepwise regression analysis. Conclusion: The present study shows the adaptive value of emotional intelligence for maintaining and promoting individual’s mental health. The results provide support to the notion that lower emotional intelligence individuals are prone to depression.

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