Role of Emotional Intelligence in Academic Performance among Dental Students of South India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is potentially associated with higher academic performance. However, sparse evidence exists in the Southern region of India, in assessing EI and its relation to academic performance in dental students. Objective: The objective is to emphasize the need for the relationship between EI and academic achievement among dental students. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational questionnaire research was carried out on 248 dental students. A questionnaire with 47 elements about EI was created using Google Forms and disseminated over E-mail and WhatsApp. The data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 20.0. International Business Machines Corporation-United States of America (IBM-USA). The data were examined using the Chi-square test. A P < 0.05 was judged statistically significant. Results: EI is positively associated with high academic performance. A significantly association was identified between EI and gender (0.008). No statistical significance was found between EI and age, education. In multivariate analysis, females showed a significant association with EI in terms of gender. Low EI was observed in postgraduates compared to undergraduates and also with increasing age of the students. Conclusion: EI was found to be high in postgraduates and females. Primary data on the impact of EI on academic performance in dental students, and identified that its relationship with professional and lifestyle habits, gender were associated with EI, which in turn showed and academic performance. We hypothesized that the EI of students is associated with academic performance.