Emotional intelligence and self-medication in adolescents from Chiclayo Youth Centers, Peru

Durand R.B.C.; Vega H.I.A.; Pérez M.S.P.; Sotomayor D.Á.C. · Salus (2023)

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the possible relationship between emotional intelligence and self-medication in adolescents who attended youth centers in Chiclayo, between October 2021 and March 2022. Material and methods: A correlational, prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 267 adolescents who attended four youth centers in the city of Chiclayo, based on the application of an emotional intelligence test and a questionnaire regarding self-medication, applied with a Cronbach alpha validity and reliability coefficients of 0.91 and 0.87, respectively. Results: 79% of adolescents of both genders practiced self-medication. Furthermore, it was observed that 85.8% of adolescents presented adequate emotional attention, 98.1% of them showed clear signs of improvement of their emotional clarity and 70.4% evidenced an adequate condition of emotional repair. However, no association was demonstrated between self-medication and emotional intelligence in any of the three dimensions (p>0.05). Conclusions: A high prevalence of self-medication was determined and no relationship was found between self-medication and the three dimensions of emotional intelligence in the studied youths. Further studies are suggested, by expanding the sample to other stages of life and social strata. Emotional strengthening and preventive self-medication programs are proposed.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad de San Martín de Porres