A Study to Assess the Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress and Their Association With Emotional Intelligence in Adult Males in Chengalpattu District

Background and aim The most common mental health problems worldwide are depression, anxiety, and stress, and the emotional expression of the same is discouraged among men due to societal expectations, increasing the morbidity and mortality caused by these conditions. People with high emotional intelligence have a better understanding of their own and others' emotions, helping them to better solve their problems and manage stress, which effectively reduces their stress and anxiety. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their association with emotional intelligence in adult males in the Chengalpattu district. Methodology A cross-sectional study was done among the adult males (over 18 years of age) in the field practice area of the Urban Health Training Centre of a tertiary medical college in the Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. A total of 337 people had participated in the study. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic details and information on factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. The Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) was used to assess the emotional intelligence of the individuals. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 25 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was found to be 27.3%, 43.6%, and 21.7%, respectively. A total of 24.3% of people had low emotional intelligence. Having low emotional intelligence was found to be significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Having less perceived social support, adverse childhood experiences, and alcohol and tobacco consumption were also found to be strongly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion Emotional intelligence is inversely associated with levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among the adult male population, underscoring the protective role of emotional intelligence in mental well-being. Future interventions aiming to reduce the burden of common mental disorders should consider fostering emotional intelligence as a core component.