Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health in Arab University Settings: A Research Study

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology has shed light on the complex relationships between emotional intelligence (EI), psychological well-being (WB), and psychological distress (PD) among undergraduate physical education students in three Arab countries, Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan. The research aimed to investigate how EI is connected to WB and PD, and whether WB helps explain the link between EI and PD. The study found that EI is directly and positively related to WB, and indirectly related to PD through the mediating effect of WB. However, the pathways linking these constructs may vary by cultural context.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved a sample of 788 undergraduate physical education students from Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan, who completed self-report measures assessing EI, WB, and PD.
  • Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) evaluated the measurement models, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) tested direct and indirect relationships between EI, WB, and PD.
  • The SEM results indicated that EI was directly and positively related to WB, and indirectly related to PD through the mediating effect of WB.
  • Mediation analysis revealed that WB significantly mediated the EI-PD relationship in Kuwait, but not in Oman or Jordan.
  • Scalar invariance was not established, limiting mean-level comparisons across countries.
  • The study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to emotional intelligence training and mental health promotion, especially for students preparing to serve as future educators and health professionals.

Statistics:

  • The study involved a sample of 788 undergraduate physical education students from Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan.
  • The SEM results indicated that EI was directly and positively related to WB (β = 0.45, p < 0.001).
  • The SEM results also indicated that WB mediated the EI-PD relationship in Kuwait (β = 0.35, p < 0.05).
  • The study found that configural and metric invariance were established, but scalar invariance was not.

Sources:

  • "Structural relationships between emotional intelligence, well-being, and psychological distress: a multi-group SEM study among undergraduate physical education students in three Arab countries" (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025, 16).
  • Sultan Qaboos University Researchers Describe Recent Advances in Mental Health Diseases and Conditions (Mental Health Weekly Digest, October 20, 2025; p 1249).
  • Frontiers in Psychology is published by Frontiers Media S.A., a free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1650030.