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Emotional Intelligence, Sense of Coherence, Engagement and Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students’ Health

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  • Elena Fernández-Martínez

    (Salbis Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Ana I. López-Alonso

    (Transplante Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Pilar Marqués-Sánchez

    (Salbis Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • María Cristina Martínez-Fernández

    (Salbis Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón

    (Salbis Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Cristina Liébana-Presa

    (Salbis Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain)

Abstract

It is important to consider university settings as sustainable environments that promote student well-being. Our aim in this study was to determine how the variables of engagement, emotional intelligence, sense of coherence, and coping influence the health of students at a Spanish university. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The instruments of measures administered were: The General Health Questionnaire, Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Uterch Work Engagement Scale, sense of coherence and brief coping scale to 463 students. The results showed that better-perceived health was associated with higher scores for dedication, vigor, clarity, repair, sense of coherence, active coping, positive reframing, and humor. Conversely, poorer perceived health was associated with higher scores for attention, instrumental support, self-distraction, venting, religion, denial, self-blaming, emotional support, and behavioral disengagement. In addition, the variables analyzed presented differences by sex. Our proposed predictive model of health and the associations between variables indicate the need to cultivate emotional skills, such as mood repair, a sense of coherence, and coping strategies, in order to promote student health. Facilitating students’ acquisition of knowledge and resources by analyzing these and other variables can contribute to individual well-being and help university students to cope with present and future academic challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Fernández-Martínez & Ana I. López-Alonso & Pilar Marqués-Sánchez & María Cristina Martínez-Fernández & Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón & Cristina Liébana-Presa, 2019. "Emotional Intelligence, Sense of Coherence, Engagement and Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students’ Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:6953-:d:294787
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francisca Cecilia Encinas Orozco & Judith Cavazos Arroyo, 2016. "Influencia del engagement académico en la lealtad de estudiantes de posgrado: un abordaje a través de un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales," Estudios Gerenciales, Universidad Icesi, vol. 32(140), pages 228-238, September.
    2. Antonovsky, Aaron, 1993. "The structure and properties of the sense of coherence scale," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 725-733, March.
    3. George-Laurentiu Serban-Oprescu & Silvia Dedu & Anca-Teodora Serban-Oprescu, 2019. "An Integrative Approach to Assess Subjective Well-Being. A Case Study on Romanian University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-27, March.
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