P1028 - EXPLORING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS, SELF-ESTEEM, AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN CHILEAN ADOLESCENTS

P1028

EXPLORING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS, SELF-ESTEEM, AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN CHILEAN ADOLESCENTS

P. McColl^1,*, A. Caro¹, F. Schnaidt¹, M. Palazzi¹, C. Gandolfo¹, M. Torrejon¹

¹School Medicine, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile

Rationale: Is important explore psychological variables in patients with obesity to develop effective treatments (1). Aims: measure association between self-esteem (SE) and emotional intelligence (EI) according to nutritional status (NS) in adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in 179 adolescents. NS measured: body mass index and Z-scores. SE: Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (2), and EI: Emotional Quotient Inventory (3). Statistical analysis: SPSS, employing descriptive and inferential techniques: Pearson's chi-square and correlation tests. Significance level p<0.05.

Results: Study group: 179 adolescents, 71% female and 29% male. NS: 41.9% eutrophic, 20.1% overweight, and 21.1% obese. SE: 44.1% low or very low, no significant gender differences. EI: 81% medium level, 13.4% high level, and 3.4% low level, no significant gender differences. Association between overweight and obesity and low and very low SE: Odds Ratio 2.5 (95% CI: 1.12–5.59), p<0.02. Correlation between EI intrapersonal subdimension (IP) and  Z-score of NS, r= -0.209, p< 0.005. Correlation between stress management (SM) of EI and  Z-score: r = 0.161, p < 0.05.

Conclusion: High prevalence of overweight and obesity, significant levels of low SE and medium EI. IP negative correlated with NE and SM positive correlated with Z-score. Is essential  incorporate the evaluation of psychological variables in the treatment of obesity in adolescents.

References: 1. Díaz P, Rodríguez V, Hernández M. Evaluación del IMC en adolescentes y su relación con trastornos emocionales: un estudio en la región Metropolitana. *J Adolesc Health*. 2020;62(3):345-350.

2. Brinkmann L, Segure MR. Adaptation of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory for Chilean adolescents. Rev Psicol. 2015;24(4):134-139.

3. López Zafra P. Manual del EQ-i Short para la medición de inteligencia emocional. 2a ed. Madrid: Editorial Psicología; 2018.

Disclosure of Interest: P. McColl Other: no conflict of interest, A. Caro Other: no conflict of interest, F. Schnaidt Other: no conflict of interest, M. Palazzi Other: no conflict of interest, C. Gandolfo Other: no conflict of interest, M. Torrejon Other: no conflict of interest