ASSOCIATION OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WITH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of emotional intelligence with academic performance of medical student of Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.

Study Design: Cross sectional study analytical study.

Place and Duration of study: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi from Jan to Mar 2018.

Patients and Methods: Three hundred and forty-seven students of 2nd and 3rd year MBBS were included through convenience sampling. All those students who were under the treatment of psychiatrist or had any psychological problems were excluded from the study. Emotional Intelligence was measured using ‘The Quick Emotional Intelligence Self-Assessment Questionnaire’ adapted for the San Diego City College MESA Program
from a model by Paul Mohapel. Academic performance of the students was measured by determining the marks in the last professional examination.

Results: Out of 347, thirty-one (8.9%) students were in low category of emotional intelligence, 241 (69.5%) were in moderate whereas 75 (21.6%) were in high emotional intelligence category. Predictive effect of emotional intelligence on academic performance was assessed by regression analysis which showed Unstandardized coefficient (B) as 0.07 with 95% confidence interval of 0.03-0.11 and p-value of 0.001. Academic performance was positively correlated with total emotional intelligence score (r=0.12, p=0.001), emotional awareness (r=0.16, p=0.002), emotional management (r=0.12, p=0.02) and social emotional awareness (r=0.20, p<0.001). However, the correlation was not significant with relationship management (r=0.07, p=0.16). There was no significant difference between the academic scores of students with moderate and high emotional categories (67.90 ± 6.33 vs. 68.10 ± 7.63, p=0.98). However, the scores were significantly lower in low category as compared to moderate and high categories. (61.49 ± 7.95 vs. 67.90 ± 6.33 and 68.10 ± 7.63, p=0.001 and <0.001 respectively).

Conclusion: Emotional intelligence is directly correlated with academic performance. Students with high emotional intelligence may outperform those with low intelligence.