A STUDY OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICAL STUDENTS OF URMIA UNIVERSITY RELATED TO SOME INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Emotional intelligence is considered as a person’s innate ability to perceive and manage his own emotions in a manner that results in successful interactions with the environment and if others are present to perceive and manage their emotions in a manner that results in successful interpersonal interactions. Emotional intelligence may affect important aspects of life. In this study we investigated emotional intelligence in medical students of Urmia University considering some individual characteristics and educational achievements. In this study at first 297 students of Urmia University of Medical Sciences were selected randomly. Then the students completed emotional intelligence questionnaire. Finally, we calculated grade point average of three educational semesters of the students. The results reveal that there is a significant difference among emotional intelligence of medical, paramedical, and nursing students but there is no significant difference between emotional intelligence of students related to sex whether native and nonnative. There is no significant correlation between emotional intelligence and educational achievement. According to the results it appears as if special attention should be given to paramedical students of Urmia University and other studies are necessary for determining effective factors on emotional intelligence and educational achievement.