The association between depression and emotional intelligence in prostate cancer patients in Morocco

Abstract

Author(s): Badr El Marjany, Abdelhak Maghous, Jamal Ksiksou, Mohamed EI Marjany, Smail Alaoui

Objective: Prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy with potential psychological consequences, including depression. Emotional Intelligence (EI) has emerged as a crucial factor influencing mental health and well-being. This study investigated the association between EI and depression levels in Moroccan men with prostate cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Oncology Department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hassan II in Fez, Morocco. The study included 100 participants diagnosed with prostate cancer who completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT). Correlations and linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships between EI, depression, and socio-demographic variables. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained.

Results: Results revealed a significant negative correlation between EI and depression scores (r=-0.326, p-value=0.05), indicating that higher EI was associated with lower depression levels. Furthermore, EI, age, marital status, and disease location significantly predicted depression, with EI being a negative predictor.

Conclusions: The findings support the protective role of EI against depression in men with prostate cancer and highlight the importance of considering EI in the development of interventions to improve mental health outcomes in this population. Future research should explore culturally sensitive interventions targeting EI and longitudinal studies to examine the long-term impact of EI on depression among men with prostate cancer.

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