title: Association Between Dental Students' Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance: A Study at Six Dental Colleges in India.
abstract: Since the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in achieving academic excellence requires further research, the aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess EI and its associated factors and to determine any association between EI and academic performance among final-year dental students in Bengaluru, India. In 2015, 208 dental students from six dental colleges in Bengaluru were invited to participate in the study. Their demographic and lifestyle data were collected, and EI was assessed with the 30-item Emotional Quotient Self-Assessment Checklist developed by Sterrett. Academic performance was assessed using grades obtained in the final-year undergraduate examination. The response rate was 96% (N=200). Overall, 54.5% of the participants had high EI scores (≥120), although only 51 (25.5%) had a high EI score in all the domains (≥20). EI was significantly greater in females than males. Gender, sleep, meeting friends, physical exercise, recreational activities, and academic performance were significantly associated with EI and accounted for 42% variance in hierarchical regression analysis. EI was also positively associated with academic performance. Gender and healthy lifestyle habits were positively associated with EI, which in turn influenced these students' academic performance. These findings suggest a possible need for attention to developing dental students' EI.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kumar was a final-year postgraduate student, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India at the time of this study; Dr. Puranik is Professor and HOD, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India; and Dr. Sowmya is Assistant Professor, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India. thakur.amit100@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kumar was a final-year postgraduate student, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India at the time of this study; Dr. Puranik is Professor and HOD, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India; and Dr. Sowmya is Assistant Professor, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Manjunath P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Puranik
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kumar was a final-year postgraduate student, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India at the time of this study; Dr. Puranik is Professor and HOD, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India; and Dr. Sowmya is Assistant Professor, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Sowmya
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D012575:Schools, Dental; D057566:Self Report; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: India; dental education; dental students; emotional intelligence