The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Obesity and Eating Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Mapping Review

Emanuele Maria Giusti, Chiara Manna, Anna Scolari, José M. Mestre, Tamara Prevendar, Gianluca Castelnuovo and Giada Pietrabissa
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Emanuele Maria Giusti: Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy
Chiara Manna: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy
Anna Scolari: Faculty of Psychology, San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
José M. Mestre: INDESS (Institute of Developmental and Social Sustainability), Department of Psychology, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cádiz, Spain
Tamara Prevendar: Department of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University, 1000 Wien, Austria
Gianluca Castelnuovo: Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy
Giada Pietrabissa: Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Eating and weight disorders often develop early in life and cause a long-standing significant health burden. Given the documented role of emotional intelligence (EI) in shaping the body image and predicting the onset of eating disorders, knowledge of the mechanisms involved in EI among youth is fundamental to designing specific interventions for screening and prevention of obesity and eating disorders (EDs). The present systematic mapping review was aimed to explore and quantify the nature and distribution of existing research investigating the impact of EI on EDs in young people. A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. The Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) was used to assess the included studies’ methodological quality. The included studies’ results were mapped based on stratification by age groups (children, preadolescents, and adolescents), population (clinical vs. non-clinical) and disordered eating outcomes. Nine studies were included, supporting the association between EI and body image dissatisfaction, ED risk and bulimic symptomatology, but not with anorexic symptoms. Research on children and clinical populations was scant. Further studies are needed to deepen the role of EI in the genesis and maintenance of EDs.

Keywords: emotional intelligence; eating disorders; body image; obesity; children; adolescents; youth; mapping review; clinical psychology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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