Evaluation of Emotional Intelligence and Its Relation to the Academic Achievement in Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Achievement in university education may be related to one’s emotional intelligent (EI) as well as his/her social skills and emotional control. Therefore, it is also probable that the EI be associated with academic and occupational achievement in medical students. Objectives: The aim of this study was evaluation of the relation between EI and academic achievement of students working in the medical field. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences between 2010 and 2011 who had completed at least two academic semesters. Valid Bar-On inventory and average academic scores were used for evaluating EI and academic achievement, respectively. Pearson test was performed to analyze the data. Results: One hundred-fifty medical students were enrolled (mean age 23.17 ± 2.17 years and all were male). The mean of EI score were 303.14 ± 39.32 and 340.11 ± 35.00 in undergraduate and graduated medical students, respectively. There was a significant correlation between EI score and academic achievement (P = 0.001, correlation coefficient: 0.305). Problem solving ability, stress tolerance and self-awareness from all fields showed significant relation with academic achievement (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, EI -especially in problem solving ability, stress tolerance and self-awareness fields- was related to the academic achievement. Therefore, enhancing such abilities may improve the academic and occupational achievement of the medical students.