Illness perception mediates the association between emotional intelligence and symptom distress among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a Common-Sense Model approach.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the association between emotional intelligence and symptom distress among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) based on the Common-Sense Model, and to explore whether illness perception statistically accounts for this association. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 198 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis in three tertiary hospitals in Chengdu, China. Emotional intelligence, illness perception, and symptom distress were assessed using validated questionnaires. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed to examine the associations among these variables. RESULTS: The mean scores for the main variables were 79.22 ± 13.82 for emotional intelligence, 43.53 ± 7.88 for illness perception, and 24.04 ± 18.22 for symptom distress. Correlation analysis showed that emotional intelligence was significantly negatively related to both illness perception (r = -0.229, p < 0.001) and symptom distress (r = -0.234, p < 0.001). Illness perception was significantly positively related to symptom distress (r = 0.461, p < 0.001). Symptom distress differed significantly according to sex, employment status, monthly income, dialysis vintage, and the number of comorbidities. The total association between emotional intelligence and symptom distress was significant (β = -0.145, 95% CI [-0.285, -0.005]). After illness perception was included, the direct association was not significant (β = -0.079, 95% CI [-0.211, 0.053]), whereas the indirect association through illness perception was significant (β = -0.066, 95% bootstrap CI [-0.134, -0.007]). These findings suggest an indirect association within the cross-sectional statistical model rather than evidence of a causal pathway. CONCLUSION: Illness perception may be an important psychological correlate linking emotional intelligence with symptom distress in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. These findings highlight the potential value of integrating illness perception assessment and emotional regulation support into routine symptom management, although longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify temporal relationships and evaluate clinical effectiveness.