Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Personality traits as a predictor of emotional intelligence among medical students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Neha Taneja
. Sujata Gupta 1
. Vinoth Gnana Chellaiyan 2
. Aanchal Anant Awasthi
. Sandeep Sachdeva 3

1 North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi

2 Chettinand Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

3 Ex Faculty North DMC Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage our own feelings
and of others. It has emerged as one of the vital elements of success and interpersonal relations in
everyday life. There are individual differences of EI depending on characteristics and behaviors of
an individual, which determines their personality.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The present study assesses the EI and personality traits of medical
students and determines the relationship of EI with personality traits of the medical students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross‑sectional study and was conducted among students
of a government medical college, located in New Delhi. A total of 210 participants were included in
the study. After obtaining written informed consent from all participants, a questionnaire consisting of
demographic information, Ten‑Item Personality Inventory and Schutte EI Scale, was administered.
The means and proportions were calculated. Chi‑square test and Pearson’s correlation test were
used to test significance. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age of the study participants was 21.54 (±1.98) years.
The majority (65.7%) of the students were male. 51% of the students had moderate EI, and high EI
was seen in 49% of the students. A positive and significant relationship between personality traits
and EI was found in the study.
CONCLUSION: Personality traits and EI are related to one another and could influence student
academic achievement. Since EI influences academic performance so personality trait assessment
and empathic perceptions exploration can facilitate to aid the academic performance of the students.

Keywords

Emotional intelligence
medical students
personality traits
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 10, Issue 12
December 2020
Pages 1-5

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