Emotional Intelligence, Physical Activity Practice and Mediterranean Diet Adherence-An Explanatory Model in Elementary Education School Students

Abstract

Currently, there is a global concern with regard to the lifestyles of young people. This study aims to study the association between Mediterranean diet adherence, emotional intelligence and physical activity practice in teenagers in the last cycle of elementary education. In turn, this objective is divided into (a) developing an explanatory model of the practice of physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence and emotional intelligence; and (b) developing a multi-group model according to the gender of the participants. A descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted in a sample of 293 elementary school students (M = 11.45; S.D = 0.31). The instruments used were an ad hoc socio-demographic questionnaire, the Trait Meta Mood Scale-24, the KIDMED questionnaire and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children. The results show that males show a positive relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and emotional intelligence and between emotional intelligence and physical activity. In contrast, in the case of females, a negative relationship was observed between emotional intelligence and physical activity. In conclusion, it can be seen that gender plays a fundamental role in adolescence, being a key factor influencing an active and healthy lifestyle.

Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Endurance and Quality of Life among Children with Physical Disabilities

“…In parallel to this study, children who participated in organised sport activity more than three hours daily reported better intrapersonal and interpersonal levels, emotional intelligence and stress management than those who did not [ 51 ]. A very different result has been found by Melguizo-Ibáñez et al, 2022, who reported a negative association between PA and emotional intelligence among female elementary school students [ 52 ]. A previous study among obese children found a negative association between the degree of obesity and quality of life [ 53 ].…”

Study of the Effects of Physical-Activity Practice and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet on Emotional Intelligence in Elementary School Education Students

“…In contrast, research by Ferrer-Cascales et al [41] found a better conception of emotional and dietary states for females. Similarly, Melguizo-Ibáñez et al [42] found that female teenagers showed greater emotional competence than males.…”

“…Numerous studies have suggested that adolescent populations are becoming increasingly sedentary [47,48]. Numerous studies have affirmed that the educational field must provide a comprehensive education, in which the complete development of the student is achieved [34,42,49]. It has been found that, apart from the educational environment, there are other variables that can condition the acquisition of an active and healthy lifestyle.…”

Violent Behaviour and Emotional Intelligence in Physical Education: The Effects of an Intervention Programme

“…Estévez et al [27] claim that emotional intelligence exerts a buffering effect on disruptive behaviour [27]. This means that more emotional training reduces violent disruptive behaviour [28,29].…”