The role of emotional intelligence components in predicting eating disorders

The aim of this study was to determine the role of emotional intelligence components in predicting eating disorders in a correlational design. For this purpose, 380 female students studying at the Islamic Azad University-South Tehran Branch in the academic year of 1997-98 were selected by convenience sampling using the questionnaires of eating attitudes (Gerner and Griffin, 1979) and emotional intelligence (Shrink, 1996) responded. The results of Pearson correlation test showed that there is a negative relationship (P <0.001) between the symptoms of eating disorders and emotional intelligence (self-motivation, self-awareness and self-control). In addition, the results of regression analysis test showed that the components of emotional intelligence are significant predictors (P <0.001) for the symptoms of eating disorders that have the ability to explain 10% of the variance of the symptoms of eating disorders. Among these, the subscales of self-motivation, self-awareness and self-control of emotional intelligence have a unique and significant contribution in explaining the symptoms of eating disorders in female students. Findings of the present study show that low levels of emotional intelligence increase vulnerability to the symptoms of eating disorders and symptoms of eating disorders such as diet and physical dissatisfaction are very high risk factors for eating disorders.