Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance of Final Year (7th Semester) Medical Students

Abstract

BACKGROUND Due to changing priorities of medical students in the present day scenario, an insight of their Emotional Intelligence (EI) can serve as a predictor of their compassionate and understanding domain. The relation of EI with academic performance will give an idea on how the emotional or indirectly psychological component plays a role in the manner the medical students perform. Importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognised. It is more relevant in medical professionals who have an inbuilt touch of emotions to the profession. The study was conducted to evaluate EI of 7th semester MBBS students and also to determine the relation if any of EI with their academic performances. METHODS This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in a Government Medical College in Central India. The study was carried out among 159 medical students. Data collection was done with the aid of a structured, pretested questionnaire which had questions based on the Quick Emotional Intelligence self-administered questionnaire. Academic scores of previous MBBS years were considered. The relation between emotional intelligence and academic scores was studied. Data was entered in Microsoft excel. Statistical analysis was done with help of Open Epi Info. RESULTS Mean ± Standard Deviation of Emotional awareness, Emotional Management, Social Emotional Awareness, and Relationship Management scores were 23.94 ± 4.86, 24.56 ± 6.49, 27.75 ± 5.77 and 25.91 ± 6.46 respectively. Mean total Emotional Intelligence score including all domains was 102.16 ± 18.38. A weak positive correlation was established between EI and academic scores. CONCLUSIONS EI of medical students was directly associated with their academic scores. KEY WORDS Emotional Intelligence, Medical, Academic Scores, Students