The Effect of Fasting on Emotional Intelligence
2015
Masood Nikfarjam | Mohammad-Reza Noormohammadi | Elham Mardanpour-Shahrekordi
Introduction: Fasting is one of the most ancient prayers and common among world’s various ethnics and nations. Holy Ramadan fasting is conducted every year for one month by Muslims. Helpful effects of Ramadan fasting on human’s psychological aspects are being confirmed. Aim: This research was to examine fasting effect on emotional intelligence. Materials and Methods: This prospective, self-control, cohort study was conducted from one week prior to till one month after Ramadan month of 2010, on 32 volunteer male students of Shahrekord Seminary enrolled by convenience sampling. Emotional intelligence was evaluated according to 15 subscales using Bar-On questionnaire in three stages (one week prior to, at the end of, and after Ramadan), and the data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The mean emotional intelligence in the three stages was different (p<0.001), and the highest value (125.59 ± 8.51) was obtained in the second stage. Except for independence, in other subscales there were significant differences among the stages (p<0.05), and self-awareness, responsibility, empathy, and stress tolerance increased in the second stage (at the end of Ramadan). Conclusion: Fasting could be one of the factors influencing emotional intelligence. However, more research is needed on fasting association with emotional intelligence and the underlying processes which affect this association.
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