EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AS PREDICTORS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The study adopted a correlational research design to examine emotional intelligence and social support as predictors of quality of life among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nigeria. Seventy participants were purposively drawn for a population of 100 persons living with HIV/AIDS. Three instruments were used to elicit response from participants on quality of life, social support and emotional intelligence. Three hypotheses were tested using Inferential Statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlations and Multiple Regression Analysis. The result of the first hypothesis indicated that there was a statistically significant r (68) = 0.433, P < 0.01 relationship between social support and quality of life. The result of the second hypothesis showed that there was a statistically significant r (68) = 0.271, P < 0.05 relationship between emotional intelligence and quality of life. And the third hypothesis revealed that emotional intelligence and social support jointly predicted quality of life (r = .444; F = 8.237, P < .01) and it accounted for about 19.7% variance for quality of life among persons living with HIV/AIDS. Independently, social support (β = .387; t =3.219, P < .01) significantly predicted quality of life while emotional intelligence (β =.110; t = .914, P > .05) did not predict quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS. By implication, emotional intelligence and social support as predictors of quality of life among PLHIV require adequate social support and emotional intelligence to live a fulfilling life. We therefore recommend that family, friends, and social organizations should endeavour to support PLHIV as this support will improve their quality of life which would in essence encourage productive and fulfilling life.