Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students

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...

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Main Authors: Omar Dev, Roxana Dev, Abdul Rahman, Amir Rifaat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Organization Center of Academic Research 2016
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/59556/1/Influence%20of%20emotional%20intelligence%20as%20the%20mediator%20between%20physical%20activity%20and%20mental%20health%20%28distress%29%20among%20Malaysian%20university%20students.pdf
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author Omar Dev, Roxana Dev
Abdul Rahman, Amir Rifaat
author_facet Omar Dev, Roxana Dev
Abdul Rahman, Amir Rifaat
author_sort Omar Dev, Roxana Dev
collection UPM
description 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.
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spelling upm.eprints-595562018-03-09T01:07:55Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/59556/ Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students Omar Dev, Roxana Dev Abdul Rahman, Amir Rifaat 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. International Organization Center of Academic Research 2016 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/59556/1/Influence%20of%20emotional%20intelligence%20as%20the%20mediator%20between%20physical%20activity%20and%20mental%20health%20%28distress%29%20among%20Malaysian%20university%20students.pdf Omar Dev, Roxana Dev and Abdul Rahman, Amir Rifaat (2016) Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students. International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 2 (5). pp. 492-500. ISSN 2411-183X http://dergipark.ulakbim.gov.tr/ijasos/article/view/5000199884 10.18769/ijasos.95534
spellingShingle Omar Dev, Roxana Dev
Abdul Rahman, Amir Rifaat
Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students
title Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students
title_full Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students
title_fullStr Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students
title_full_unstemmed Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students
title_short Influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health (distress) among Malaysian university students
title_sort influence of emotional intelligence as the mediator between physical activity and mental health distress among malaysian university students
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/59556/1/Influence%20of%20emotional%20intelligence%20as%20the%20mediator%20between%20physical%20activity%20and%20mental%20health%20%28distress%29%20among%20Malaysian%20university%20students.pdf
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