title: Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Resident Well-Being.
abstract: There is increasing recognition that physician wellness is critical; it not only benefits the provider, but also influences quality and patient care outcomes. Despite this, resident physicians suffer from a high rate of burnout and personal distress. Individuals with higher emotional intelligence (EI) are thought to perceive, process, and regulate emotions more effectively, which can lead to enhanced well-being and less emotional disturbance. This study sought to understand the relationship between EI and wellness among surgical residents.
  
  
  
  Residents in a single general surgery residency program were surveyed on a voluntary basis. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form. Resident wellness was assessed with the Dupuy Psychological General Well-Being Index, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form. Emotional intelligence and wellness parameters were correlated using Pearson coefficients. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors predictive of well-being.
  
  
  
  Seventy-three residents participated in the survey (response rate 63%). Emotional intelligence scores correlated positively with psychological well-being (r = 0.74; p < 0.001) and inversely with depression (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) and 2 burnout parameters, emotional exhaustion (r = -0.69; p < 0.001) and depersonalization (r = -0.59; p < 0.001). In regression analyses controlling for demographic factors such as sex, age, and relationship status, EI was strongly predictive of well-being (β = 0.76; p < 0.001), emotional exhaustion (β = -0.63; p < 0.001), depersonalization (β = -0.48; p = 0.002), and depression (β = -0.60; p < 0.001).
  
  
  
  Emotional intelligence is a strong predictor of resident well-being. Prospectively measuring EI can identify those who are most likely to thrive in surgical residency. Interventions to increase EI can be effective at optimizing the wellness of residents.
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA. Electronic address: danalin@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Dana T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Cara A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Liebert
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Arghavan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests