EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Introduction: The evaluation of Emotional Intelligence is an important factor in determining medical students' academic performance. As a result, the study was carried out to compare the relationship between Emotional Intelligence score and academic performance in undergraduate medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 undergraduate medical students and Schutte scale was used to assess their Emotional Intelligence through Google form during the period between July 2021 to January 2022. Academic achievement was assessed based on each student’s self-reported grade point average in the most recent examination. Results : Out of 346 study participants,3% had low Emotional Intelligence, 29% had moderate Emotional Intelligence, 68% had high Emotional Intelligence. A significant association was identified between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance, Grade, Gender, Career choice. No statistically significant association was observed between Emotional Intelligence and Year of study of participants. Conclusion: The participants' academic performance was strongly associated with their Emotional Intelligence scores. Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to comprehend and control emotions, to be empathetic, to be socially competent, and so on. These abilities increase overall communication skills, which improves achievement in medical school.

Keywords

• Medical Undergraduates, Academic Performance, Emotional Intelligence