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. 2019 Sep 5:2019:6530539.
doi: 10.1155/2019/6530539. eCollection 2019.

Emotional Intelligence in Children with Severe Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Francesca Felicia Operto  1 , Francesco Precenzano  2 , Ilaria Bitetti  2 , Valentina Lanzara  2 , Maria Lorena Fontana  3 , Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino  1   2 , Marco Carotenuto  2 , Francesco Pisani  4 , Anna Nunzia Polito  5 , Daniela Smirni  6 , Michele Roccella  6
Affiliations

Emotional Intelligence in Children with Severe Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Francesca Felicia Operto et al. Behav Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects up to 4% of a pediatric population, with many comorbidities in the medium-long term. Functional alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may explain why OSAS impacts aspects such as executive functions, memory, motor control, attention, visual-spatial skills, learning, and mood regulation. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a complex neuropsychological function that could be impaired in many clinical conditions.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the difference in emotional intelligence skills among children with OSAS and healthy subjects (nOSAS).

Methods: 129 children (72 males; mean age 7.64 ± 1.98 years) affected by OSAS were compared to 264 non-OSAS (nOSAS) children (138 males; mean age 7.98 ± 2.13) similar for gender, age, and socioeconomic status. In order to assess the emotional quotient, the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (EQ-i:YV) was used.

Results: The comparison for means and standard deviation between OSAS children and nOSAS children for EQ-i:YV scores showed significant differences for Interpersonal, Adaptability, and Stress Management scales and EQ Total score.

Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the role of intermittent hypoxia in the genesis of the effects of sleep-related respiratory disorders, which involves also aspects different from physical impairments.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Raw data distribution of children affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and non-OSAS (nOSAS) children in EQ-i:YV total score. EQ-i:YV: Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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