Exploring the Relationships of Physical Activity, Emotional Intelligence and Health in Taiwan College Students

Development of a Chinese Emotional Intelligence Inventory and Its Association with Physical Activity

“…In our study, a positive relationship was found between physical activity and emotional intelligence, indicating that the more physical activity participation the university students have, the higher their emotional intelligence. The finding of our study are in line with the finding from the other studies (Adhia, Nagendra, & Mahadevan, 2010;Li, Lu, & Wang, 2009) that yoga exercise enhanced both of the emotional scores in managers, Adhia, Nagendra, & Mahadevan (2010) further explained that yoga provides a means to de-stress individuals and improve personal satisfaction, also help them to disengage from the negative role and unhappy involvement one has created for oneself, moreover, becoming more self-aware, self-regulated, and with a proper perspective of life and various relationships through yoga practice might lead to the enhancement of EI.…”

“…There has been very few study on the association between physical activity and emotional intelligence in the past, only recently has there been two empirical studies linking emotional intelligence to exercise participation (Adhia, Nagendra, & Mahadevan, 2010;Li, Lu & Wang, 2009). In our study, a positive relationship was found between physical activity and emotional intelligence, indicating that the more physical activity participation the university students have, the higher their emotional intelligence.…”

“…The studies of the association of EI and physical activity received attention recently (Adhia, Nagendra, & Mahadevan, 2010;Dietrich & Audiffren, 2011;Li, Lu, & Wang (2009). Dietrich & Audiffren, 2011 reported the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between EI and exercise, while Li, Lu, & Wang (2009) found that physical activity was one of the predictor variables of emotional intelligence.…”

“…Dietrich & Audiffren, 2011 reported the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between EI and exercise, while Li, Lu, & Wang (2009) found that physical activity was one of the predictor variables of emotional intelligence. Nevertheless, the topic of how the experience of physical activity influences emotional intelligence and whether emotional intelligence could be mediator of physical activity behavior change, or directly leads to changes in exercise behavior has yet to be discussed.…”

“…In comparing the emotional intelligence, body image and disordered eating attitudes in combat sport athletes and non-athletes, Costarelli, & Stamou (2009) found the athletes having high emotional intelligence had higher emotional intelligence than non-athletes. While the impacts of EI in sport began to emerge, the empirical study of the association between physical activity and EI is scarce (Li, Lu, & Wang, 2009); to the best of our knowledge, the effects of EI on physical activity, and the importance of how physical activity plays an important role in enhancing emotional health of individuals has been overlooked in the past.…”