Table 2.

Studies analyzing the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and HbA1c levels.

Study	Design and objectives	Sample	Type of diabetes	EI Scale	Outcome measures	Results
Zysberg et al., 2017 Israel	Cross-sectional study To evaluate the hypothesis that EI will show negative associations with blood glucose and HbA1c level	78 young adults. 61.5% females (mean age 31.89±9.97years) No psychological or medical intervention described	Type 1 diabetes	The audio-visual test of emotional intelligence (AVEI) Performance-based ability model Mean=17.87±2.90	Blood levels of sugar/glucose during the last day HbA1c levels	A negative association between EI and HbA1c and marginal results in the same direction with blood sugar levels
Ruiz-Aranda et al., 2018 Israel	Cross-sectional study To examine the relationship between EI and HbA1c levels in a sample of patients with Type 1 diabetes	85 adults. 62% females (mean age 31±9.97years) No psychological or medical intervention described	Type 1 diabetes	The AVEI Performance-based ability model Mean=17.87±2.90	HbA1c level	EI showed a negative association with HbA1c
Hughes et al., 2012 United States	Cross-sectional study To examine whether emotional processing, self-control and the interaction between these variables predicted HbA1c for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes in addition to diabetes-specific constructs	137 adolescents. 54% females (mean age 13.48±1.51years) Approximately half (63%) of the adolescents were on an insulin pump, with the remainder prescribed MDI	Type 1 diabetes	The Emotional Approach Coping Scale. Self-report ability model Mean=11.81±3.02	HbA1c level Self-control Self-control scale (Finkenauer et al., 2005)	EI in interaction with self-control is negatively related to HbA1c
Zysberg et al., 2013 Israel	Cross-sectional study To evaluate the hypothesis that parents’ emotional intelligence is associated with their children’s Type I diabetes	81 parents. 54.3% females (mean age 41.12±6.90years). The mean age of the children was 9.9±3.41years No psychological or medical intervention described	Type 1 diabetes	The AVEI Performance-based ability model Mean=14.33±3.46 The Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (The SEIS) Self-report ability model Mean=2.00±0.44	HbA1c level	A negative relationship was found between EI of parents and the HbA1c of their children
Coccaro et al., 2016 United States	Cross-sectional study To investigate the relationship between measures of emotional regulation and EI and HbA1c levels in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes	100 adults. 55% females (mean age 59±13years) No psychological or medical intervention described	Type 2 diabetes	Trait Meta-Mood (TMMS) Self-report ability model Mean=78.8±11.0	HbA1c level	EI showed a negative association with HbA1c
Žilinskiene et al., 2021 Lithuania	Cross-sectional study To investigate the association between mothers’ EI and Type I diabetes disease management in their children	134 mothers (mean age 37.83±4.37years) 134 children 51.5% female (mean age 9.26±2.03years) No psychological or medical intervention described	Type 1 diabetes	the short version of EI-DARL Self-report ability model	HbA1c level	An increase in scores of the EI scales and subscales of mothers increases the likelihood of deterioration in T1DM management of their children