Emotional intelligence and its relationship with subjective perception of happiness in patients with mental disorders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to research emotional intelligence and its relationship with the level of "happiness" in patients with various forms of mental disorders. The study involved 210 patients with mental disorders (70 with organic mental disorders, 70 with endogenous disorders and 70 with neurotic disorders) and 105 healthy people. Patients with mental disorders were characterized by a lower level of emotional intelligence (EQ), which is equal to medium-low normative gradations, which defined patients as less able to adequately understand, guide and express their own emotions and experiences, as well as understand and adequately respond to the emotions of others, compared with individuals. without mental pathology. Patients with endogenous disorders were characterized by a low level of EQ. According to the data obtained, the least satisfied with life, and, accordingly, having a low level of happiness, were patients with neurotic disorders, in which the degree of satisfaction with life (the difference between needs and their realizability) had low values ​​(0.90 ± 0.39), which defined them as less lucky. The level of happiness and, accordingly, the least low indicators of the degree of satisfaction with life among the forms of mental disorders were determined by organic disorders (1.22 ± 0.46), the indicators of which were as close as possible to the results of healthy individuals. The level of dissatisfaction with life in people with endogenous disorders was higher (1.57 ± 0.39) than in healthy people, at p ≤ 0.05, which determined them as less successful. The level of happiness of patients was directly correlate to the severity of emotional intelligence (the higher the level of EQ, the higher the level of happiness is), motivational focus on development and social activity, as well as sthenism in emotional experiences. These emotional and motivational features cause an increase in the level of subjective perception of happiness.