Impact of emotional intelligence on level of academic achievement in a sample of Saudi female medical student

Abstract

BackgroundEmotional intelligence (EI) assessment has become an effective technique in exploring individual competencies. In the medical educational, there is a growing evidence for relation between academic achievement and emotional intelligence.ObjectiveTo examine relation between academic achievement and emotional intelligence among medical students.MethodA cross-sectional study of 189 female university students using paper-based Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version was conducted. BarOn EQ-i:YV consists of 7 sub-scores which estimate various domains of emotional intelligence along with general mood. The academic achievement was assessed via self-reported Grade Point Average (GPA).ResultThe average Intrapersonal score of participating students was 14.9 ± 3.4 and Interpersonal was 41.7 ± 4.9. The students scored 32.0 ± 5.0 in stress management scale and 31.9 ± 4 in adaptability. The lowest score achieved in the Emotional Inelegance scale was 32.5 whereas the top score was 71.3. The average general mood was 47.1 ± 6.4 and the positive impression ranged between 6 and 23 (17.3 ± 2.8). Positive week correlations were defined between the GPA and self-efficacy (r = 0.13) and Adaptability (r = 0.08) though these correlations were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Linear regression model showed that domains of Bar-On scale could explain up to 33% of changes in GPA (R2 = 0.33) with significant effect of self-efficacy, adaptability and general mood scores (P < 0.05).ConclusionMedical students showed high level of emotional intelligence which positively affect their academic achievement. Therefore, improving the emotional intelligence domains can help students improving their academic achievement.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.