Examination of emotional intelligence by subscales of students from Sofia Medical University
Information for nursing staff, 2024, 56(1), 34-41.
M. Yancheva-Stoycheva1, I. Stoilova1, I. Sokolova2
1 Department “Occupational Medicine”, FPH „Prof. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, MD, DSc“, MU – Sofia
2 Department “Health Care”, FPH „Prof. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, MD, DSc“, MU – Sofia
Abstract. Emotional intelligence is a relatively new concept in psychology in recent decades. This definition includes effective management of emotions such as anger, stress, fear, anxiety, and depression. Emotional intelligence is generally associated with practicing self-control, adopting an optimistic outlook, and developing social competence. It is essential to examine its short-term and long-term effects on the academic period and professional life of medical professionals who have chosen to develop careers in medicine and healthcare. The study among medical majors from Medical University of Sofia found that students from the „Nursing” and “Midwifery“ specialties have medium to high levels of emotional intelligence, respectively, distributed by the size of the sub-scales. Medical students and physical therapists have the highest level of severity for the emotional sensitivity subscale. We prove a statistically signi-ficant difference between the mean levels of severity for the emotional sensitivity subscale in the studied specialties (χ2 = 13.494, r = 0.036). Physician assistants, nurses, and midwives have the highest severity level for the emotion management subscale. Nurses and midwives have the highest level of severity of self-motivation, empathy, and managing other people‘s emotions. These are essential characteristics related to their profession as people who care about the health and life of society. The work of the medical specialist requires dedication and a human attitude towards the patient. The results demonstrated the need to integrate emotional intelligence programs and training into the curricula of future healthcare workers.
Key words: emotional intelligence, healthcare students, risk professions
Address for correspondence: Iliana Sokolova, e-mail: i.sokolova@foz.mu-sofia.bg