Effect of Insomnia and Distress on Emotional Intelligence and Coping Strategies Among Medical College Students

Shahida Perveen; Najma Iqbal Malik; Farheen Jamil; Mohsin Atta

doi:10.29054/apmc/2018.134

Shahida Perveen M. Phil Scholar, Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha
Najma Iqbal Malik Associate Professor, Chairperson Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha
Farheen Jamil MS, Clinical Psychology NUST, Islamabad
Mohsin Atta Assistant Professor of Psychology University of Sargodha, Sargodha

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2018.134

Keywords: Insomnia, psychological distress, coping, emotional intelligence

Abstract

Objective: Present study focused on the Effect of Insomnia and Distress on Emotional Intelligence and Coping Strategies among Medical College Students. Study Design: Cross-sectional, questionnaire based. Settings: Different medical colleges in Punjab, Pakistan. Period: October 2016 - July 2017. Patients and methods: sample of medical students was purposely drawn and questionnaires were administered. Results: Insomnia had significant positive relationship with psychological distress and maladaptive coping, and significant negative relationship with adaptive coping. However, insomnia was found to have non-significant negative relationship with emotional intelligence. Furthermore, results showed that psychological distress had significant negative correlation with overall coping and adaptive coping but had significant positive relationship with maladaptive coping. Yet psychological distress had non-significant relationship with emotional intelligence. Additionally, study further showed that emotional intelligence had significant positive relationship with adaptive coping but had significant negative relationship with maladaptive coping. Multiple regression analysis showed that insomnia and psychological distress were significant predictors of coping (adaptive and maladaptive). Additionally, no significant gender differences were found however students differ significantly in terms of birth order. Conclusions: Insomnia has significant positive relationship with psychological distress and coping but non-significant relationship with emotional intelligence. Additionally, insomnia and psychological distress were significant predictors of coping (specifically maladaptive).