Emotional intelligence and anxiety, stress, and depression in Iranian resident physicians

Residency is one of the most critical periods of medical education. Residents are susceptible in high risk for mental problems which can affect the doctor-patient relationship. Emotional intelligence (EI) correlates closely with stress and mental health. Considering the important role of EI in medical education and with regard to lack of studies in this group in Iran, this study conducted to determine the relationship between EI and stress, anxiety, and depression in a sample of resident physician in our university of medical sciences.

In this cross-sectional study, 245 residents were invited, but only100 questionnaires were analyzed, and the response rate was 41%. From this, 26 were men and 74 were women. Bar-on EI questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, for evaluating the stress, anxiety, and depression and demographic characteristics were used.

The mean score of EI in resident physician was 330.24 ± 38.5. The mean score of stress, anxiety, and depression was 17.8 ± 8.6, 10.04 ± 7.99, and 10.49 ± 8.67 respectively. There was a negative relation between mean score of anxiety (R = -0.0525), stress (R = -0.639), and depression (R = -0.644) with a mean score of EI.

Higher EI appears to be good predictors of lower stress, anxiety, and depression in resident physician.