Emotional intelligence and illness perception in cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction. This study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and illness perception in cancer patients, an area with limited prior research. Methods. Data was collected via surveys from January to March 2024 at Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos and an affiliated Oncology Hospital, using the Emotion Rating Scale, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, alongside clinical and sociodemographic data. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA F criteria, Student’s t-test, Pearson’s and Spearman correlations. Results. Results indicated that participants had relatively high EI (118.9 ± 19.88). Higher EI was observed in newly diagnosed (U = 4182.5; p = 0.034) and younger patients (ρ = –0.21; p = 0.003). The overall disease perception score was 42.1 ± 11.20, suggesting a moderately threatening perception of cancer. Younger patients (ρ = –0.19; p = 0.006) and those in rural area (t = 2.10; p = 0.022) perceived the disease as more threatening. Patients with higher EI perceived their illness as less threatening (ρ = –0.33; p < 0.001), evaluating consequences, duration, and knowledge of their illness more positively, with reduced worry and emotional impact. Conclusions. EI is related to illness perception, with both constructs linked to socio-demographic and clinical variables in cancer patients.