Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Dec 2023)
Need Action for No Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence on Physical Activity Among Undergraduates in Colombo District
Abstract
Tharindi Wijerathne,1 Dina Keumala Sari,2 Thanuja Liyanage,3 Ranil Kumaranayake,4 Dilantha Adithya1 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kaatsu International University (KIU), Battaramulla, Western Province, 10120, Sri Lanka; 2Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra, 20155, Indonesia; 3Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University, Belihul oya, 70140, Sri Lanka; 4Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, 11600, Sri LankaCorrespondence: Dina Keumala Sari, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra, 20155, Indonesia, Tel +62 81397177693, Email [email protected]: Participation in regular physical activity is influenced by a variety of factors, including psychological dimensions. Emotional intelligence (EI), an emerging term, has not yet been extensively researched in relation to Physical Activity (PA). Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between EI on the PA of university undergraduates.Methods: Cross sectional design was used to conduct the study. A total of 400 Colombo district state university undergraduates were included in the sample. The participants filled out two standard questionnaires. Wong and Low questionnaire to measure EI and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ- Long Form) to measure physical activity. Convenience sampling has been used in order to collect the data. SPSS 25.0 software was used to process and analyze the data with Spearman’s test and Mann–Whitney U-test.Results: The rate of significance is 0.061 and as it is greater than 0.05 and the test results are not significant, the null hypothesis was accepted, and the hypothesis was rejected. At the same time, there was a weak negative correlation between EI and PA, which was statistically not significant - rs = - 0.094, p = 0.061.Conclusion: It is crucial to emphasize and put into practice the need for undergraduates to engage in more PA. The findings provide a basis for research aimed at determining the relationship between EI and PA.Keywords: emotion, exercise, psychological, youth, university
