I12 - Health BehaviorReturn

This study explores the correlation between emotional intelligence (EI) and alcohol consumption patterns among Generation Z, with a focus on university students and graduates with backgrounds in economics and management. The present study explores emotional intelligence as a personal trait that potentially influences risky alcohol behaviors. These behaviors are assessed using the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and the TEIQue-SF (Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire – Short Form). A sample of 128 respondents, recruited through online platforms, completed these standardized questionnaires. A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted, encompassing the utilization of Spearman’s correlation coefficient and t-tests. This analysis yielded a negative correlation between emotional intelligence (EI) and the consumption of alcohol in a risky manner. The findings indicated that individuals with lower EI levels exhibited an elevated propensity for alcohol-related risks. Furthermore, gender disparities have been identified as a contributing factor to heightened alcohol consumption risk among males compared to females. While the findings of the present study confirm the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and alcohol risk, they also suggest the presence of complex underlying factors in alcohol consumption behaviors that extend beyond EI. This research contributes to the understanding of the role of emotional intelligence in managing alcohol use, with implications for  developing intervention strategies aimed at promoting emotional awareness and healthier coping mechanisms within Generation Z. Our results not only confirm older models (e.g. Kun et al., 2019; Kun and Demetrovics, 2010; Bar-On, 2006), but also reveal generation-specific nuances—e.g., a lower overall rate of risky drinking, but a persistent gender difference and the fundamental importance of self-control.

Older adults are the most vulnerable group to suffer from health care cost burdens which may result in barriers to health care consumption. Aiming to evaluate the relationship between cost-induced unmet need and specific age-related health conditions among the European 50+ population we perform age-specific regressions using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. The results show that unmet need is strongly associated with emotional disorders, arthritis and heart attack across all age groups. High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, chronic lung disease, stomach ulcers, and fractures are significant correlates for specific age groups. This highlights the importance of a health condition-specific as well as age-specific approach when reducing inequalities in access to health care. Policy makers therefore should pay more attention to financial barriers accessing health care for specific groups of the older population and consider complementary protective features for people with specific health conditions.