The relationship between childhood sleep, emotional intelligence and Body Mass Index in school aged children

Sleep duration and quality have been increasingly recognized as critical determinants of childhood obesity risk, with insufficient sleep linked to disruptions in appetite-regulating hormones and unhealthy weight gain trajectories. Emotional intelligence, which involves recognizing, understanding, and managing one's own emotions as well as those of others, has garnered attention for its potential impact on VARIOUS aspects of health and well-being, including weight management. Moreover, childhood obesity remains a significant public health concern worldwide, with multifaceted factors contributing to its prevalence and persistence. Research is starting to reveal how sleep patterns and emotional intelligence (ΕΙ) influence children's weight status. This study aims to investigate the relationship between childhood sleep patterns, EI, and body mass index (BMI) in school-aged children. Utilizing a sample of 614 children, aged 8-12 years (mean age 10.0 y), data on emotional intelligence scores, sleep duration and quality, and BMI measurements were collected and analyzed. The results reveal significant correlations among these variables, indicating that emotional intelligence may play a crucial role in both sleep patterns and BMI outcomes in children (<i>Mean</i> = 3.53, <i>SD</i> = 0.51 in total sample; <i>Mean</i> = 3.53, <i>SD</i> = 0.51 in overweight/obese). Specifically, higher emotional intelligence scores are associated with better sleep quality and duration, as well as healthier BMI levels (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001). These findings underscore the importance of considering emotional well-being and sleep hygiene in the context of childhood obesity prevention and intervention efforts. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these relationships and to develop targeted strategies for promoting emotional intelligence and healthy sleep habits in school-aged children.