The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health in Collegiate Champions

The purpose of this research was to study the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental health factors in collegiate champions. The statistical population of the research included 192 students athletic in Islamic Azad University (Jiroft Branch) with the average 22.35± 2.49 years of age, 9±2 years of sport experience were selected as the samples of study. In this study two standard questionnaires were used, one relating to emotional intelligence and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12). The reliability and validity of these two instruments were reported to be significant in different studies. The findings indicated that there was significant and positive relationship between emotional intelligence, its subscales (Self awareness, Empathy, Self-control and Self-motivation) with mental health. But there wasn’t significant relationship between social skills and mental health. Also results of stepwise regression indicated that emotional intelligence subscales (Self-control, Empathy and Social skills), have significant role in prediction of mental health. Additionally Changes in mental health are predictable by self-control about 76%, self-control and empathy 85%, and self-regulation, empathy and social skills 87%.