Mental vs emotional
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Understanding Mental vs. Emotional Health
Emotional Intelligence and Health
Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health
Emotional intelligence (EI) is significantly linked to mental health. Studies have shown that higher EI is associated with better mental health outcomes. For instance, a meta-analysis found that EI had a weighted average association of r = .29 with mental health, indicating a moderate positive relationship1. Another comprehensive meta-analysis supported these findings, showing an even stronger association (r = .36) between EI and mental health when EI is measured as a trait2. These findings suggest that individuals with higher EI are better equipped to manage their mental health.
Emotional Intelligence and Psychosomatic Health
EI also plays a crucial role in psychosomatic health, which involves the interaction between mind and body. The same meta-analyses revealed that EI had a weighted average association of r = .31 and r = .33 with psychosomatic health, respectively1 2. This indicates that individuals with higher EI are likely to experience fewer psychosomatic symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, which are often triggered by emotional stress.
Emotional Intelligence and Physical Health
While the relationship between EI and physical health is less pronounced, it is still significant. The meta-analyses reported associations of r = .22 and r = .27 between EI and physical health1 2. This suggests that higher EI can contribute to better physical health, although the impact is not as strong as it is for mental and psychosomatic health.
Differentiating Mood and Affect
Mood: The Emotional Climate
Mood is described as a pervasive and sustained emotional state that colors an individual's perception of the world. It is an internal state that cannot be fully inferred by observation alone and requires the individual to verbalize their feelings3. Mood can be thought of as the emotional "climate" of the brain, providing a backdrop against which other emotions are experienced. It is more stable and less changeable than affect, but it is still influenced by life circumstances and individual temperament.
Affect: The Emotional Weather
In contrast, affect is a more immediate and observable expression of emotion. It is less consistent and can change within seconds or minutes, akin to the emotional "weather"3. Affect is observable through facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language, and it provides a glimpse into an individual's internal emotional state. Clinicians often assess affect to gain insights into a person's underlying mood.
The Interplay Between Emotion and Cognition
Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Processes
Emotional intelligence bridges the gap between emotion and cognition. It involves the ability to perceive, use, understand, and regulate emotions, which in turn influences cognitive processes. Research has shown that performance-based ability EI is positively related to efficiency in emotionally laden (hot) cognitive tasks, but not in non-emotionally laden (cool) tasks6. This suggests that individuals with higher EI are better at processing emotional information, which can enhance their cognitive functioning in emotionally charged situations.
Core Affect and Emotional Episodes
Core affect, the basic feeling of being good or bad, energized or enervated, is at the heart of all emotional experiences. It influences reflexes, perception, cognition, and behavior, and can be experienced as free-floating mood or attributed to specific causes, leading to emotional episodes8. This framework helps explain how emotions are constructed and how they influence various aspects of mental and emotional health.
Conclusion
Understanding the distinctions and connections between mental and emotional health is crucial for effective health management. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in enhancing mental, psychosomatic, and physical health. Differentiating between mood and affect helps in accurately assessing and addressing emotional states. Finally, the interplay between emotion and cognition underscores the importance of emotional intelligence in cognitive processes, particularly in emotionally charged situations. These insights provide a comprehensive understanding of how emotional and mental health are intertwined and highlight the importance of fostering emotional intelligence for overall well-being.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
A meta-analytic investigation of the relationship between emotional intelligence and health
Higher emotional intelligence is associated with better mental, psychosomatic, and physical health, with the EQ-i measure showing a stronger association with mental health than other measures.
Meta-Analysis
Highly CitedA comprehensive meta-analysis of the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and health
Emotional intelligence is strongly associated with better mental and psychosomatic health, with the TEIQue showing the strongest association with mental health.
Meta-AnalysisHighly CitedGetting emotional about affect and mood
Mood and affect are distinct emotional states, and understanding their distinction can help clinicians effectively assess and treat patients.
The intelligence of emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a type of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' emotions, discriminate among them, and use this information to guide one's thinking and actions.
Highly CitedToward a new definition of mental health
Mental health should be viewed as a complex, multidimensional concept that considers both positive emotions and positive functioning, rather than just focusing on positive emotions and functioning.
Highly CitedThe Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Cool and Hot Cognitive Processes: A Systematic Review
Performance-based ability EI is positively related to efficiency in hot cognitive tasks, but not cool cognitive tasks, suggesting it could improve individuals' emotional information processing abilities.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedThe Psychology of the Emotions
Emotions are primarily biologically connected, and understanding their physiological relations is crucial for understanding mental life and its development.
Highly CitedCore affect and the psychological construction of emotion.
Core affect, influenced by internal and external factors, influences emotions, moods, and behavior, with its impact affecting reflexes, perception, cognition, and behavior.
Highly CitedThe role of emotions in marketing
Emotions play a crucial role in marketing, influencing consumer responses, cognitive processes, volitions, goal-directed behavior, and customer satisfaction.
Highly CitedEmotional labour in mental health nursing: An integrative systematic review
Emotional labor in mental health nursing contributes to burnout and attrition, but fostering supportive work environments and professional development opportunities can help nurses develop emotional intelligence and resilience.
Systematic ReviewHighly Cited