title: The importance of emotional intelligence and meaning in life in psycho-oncology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer was considered the disease of the 20th century, and the management, treatment, and adaptation of patients to general wellbeing were worldwide concerns. Emotional intelligence has frequently been associated with wellbeing and considered one important factor to optimal human functioning. The purpose of the present study was to test the differences regarding the relationship between emotional intelligence, purpose in life, and satisfaction with life between cancer and healthy people.
  
  
  METHODS
  This model was tested using structural path analysis in two independent samples. First, in a general Portuguese population without chronic disease, 214 participants (nmale  = 41, nfemale  = 173; Mage  = 53). Second, in 202 patients with cancer (nmale  = 40, nfemale  = 162; Mage  = 58.65). A two-step methodology was used to test the research hypothesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First, a confirmatory factor analysis supported the measurement model. All factors also show reliability, convergent, and discriminate validity. Second, the path coefficients for each model indicate that the proposed relationships differ significantly according to the groups. The perception capacities of emotional intelligence were more related to satisfaction with life and purpose in life in oncologic patients than in the general population without chronic disease, specifically emotional understanding and regulation. Likewise, the relationship between purpose in life and satisfaction with life in oncologic patients was significantly higher than for the general population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings thus suggest that emotional intelligence and purpose in life are potential components to promoting satisfaction in life in healthy people and more so in oncologic patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Salamanca, 4445-577, Spain.
authors.forename: Andreia Pereira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Teques
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Salamanca, 4445-577, Spain.
authors.forename: Glória Bueno
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Carrera
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Psychology, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Pais
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarem, Department of Sport Psychology, Santarém, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teques
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Salamanca, 4445-577, Spain.
authors.forename: Ginés Llorca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ramón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results