“Illness perceptions and factors of distress as mediators between trait emotional intelligence and quality of life in endometriosis”

ABSTRACT

Past findings highlighted the presence of distress symptoms and poor quality of life in people with endometriosis. Several studies showed that trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI) is a key component of one’s wellbeing, whilst Illness Perceptions may play an important role in psychological distress and perceived quality of life. The current study sought to test the hypothesis that an association between trait EI and Quality of Life in individuals with endometriosis would be mediated by Illness Perceptions, examining also the relations with General Distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). 364 women with endometriosis aged between 18 and 58 years old (M = 33.87; SD = 8.64) filled a protocol to assess Trait EI, Illness Perceptions, General Distress, and Quality of Life. Structural Equation Modelling was used to assess the relationship between the observed variables. Illness Perception was a mediator in the relationship between Trait EI, General Distress, and Quality of Life. Moreover, General Distress was a mediator between Trait EI and Quality of Life, and between Illness Perceptions and Quality of Life. Results showed that both Trait EI and Illness perceptions are key components for levels of distress and quality of life in women with endometriosis.

KEYWORDS:

• Endometriosis
• distress
• illness perceptions
• QoL

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request.

Authors’ contribution

Barberis, N. assisted with manuscript preparation, study design, data analysis and interpretation. Data were gathered on-line under supervision of Barberis, N., Cannavò M. assisted with manuscript preparation and data interpretation, Cuzzocrea, F. assisted with manuscript preparation and data interpretation, Saladino, V. assisted with manuscript preparation and data interpretation, Verrastro, V. assisted with concept and study supervision.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.