A cross-sectional study on the relationship between meditation training and emotional intelligence in women.

Aim: We aimed to reveal the relationship of meditation with emotional intelligence (EI), sleep quality and melatonin level.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Our current research was performed on middle-aged women. EI scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and night-time saliva melatonin were measured for 65 participants including 33 meditators and 32 controls.

Results: The meditation group showed a significantly higher EI score than the control group. In the regression analysis between EI and age, only the meditation group showed a significant positive correlation. The Pearson correlation analysis among all participants revealed a significant negative correlation between PSQI and EI. There was no significant group difference in the melatonin and PSQI.