Emotional Intelligence and Perspectives on Mental Health: Comfort and Compassion Towards Persons with Mental Illness.

Abstract

The current study sought to evaluate a person’s emotional intelligence (EI) and the variables that contribute to perspectives of comfort and compassion towards individuals with a mental illness (MI). Patterns in demographics, personal or family history of mental illness and overall level of compassion of participants were explored. Participants responded to a series of mental illness case studies (MIS) to determine their feelings of compassion and levels of comfort in various situations. Emotional intelligence (measured with the TEI-Que-SF) and overall compassion (measured with the Compassionate Love for Humanity Scale) were also measured. A positive correlation was found between overall compassion scores and each MIS outcome. TEIQue-SF subscales well-being, self-control, emotionality and overall compassion, were significant in predicting compassion and comfort towards persons with MI. Participants with a personal history with MI scored lower in total EI than people without a personal history with MI, and well-being and self-control were related to people’s personal history with MI. Having a personal history of MI did not show a positive correlation to levels of comfort or overall compassion towards MIS characters but was correlated with compassion towards MIS characters. EI (via TEIQue-SF) was not always associated with high compassion (via MIS). Future research might benefit from using more detailed and varied case studies, or an entirely alternate method of exposure to MI.