Effects of Mental Disorders on the Emotional Intelligence Levels of Brazilian Medical Students: a Single Center Cross-Sectional Study, 2017-2018

Introduction: Recent studies have shown the direct effects of emotional intelligence (EI) on medical practice and, more specifically, on establishing and maintaining a good doctor-patient relationship. The aim was to compare the EI levels of students from different years of medical school and to evaluate other factors that affect EI levels. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of medical students attending the 1st, 3rd and 6th years in a private institution in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A non-probabilistic convenience sample was used. EI levels were evaluated using the Schutte Self-Report EI Test, and demographic and personal data were collected. All volunteers signed the free and informed consent form prior to study inclusion. Statistical analysis used ANOVA, Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation and linear regression. A significance level of 0.05 was adopted. Results: Two hundred twenty-five volunteers were recruited between October/2017 and April/2018. Sixteen (7.1%) were excluded due to incomplete questionnaires. The final sample comprised 209 participants (71 from the 1st year, 69 from the 3rd year and 69 from the 6th year). Most were women (66.0%), 95.2% were single, 10.0% had previously graduated and 16.3% reported a previous mental disorder diagnosis. The mean age was 23.2 (±3.9) years. There was no difference in the EI overall score and in the different EI domains scores among the students from the three years. Pearson’s test showed a weak positive correlation between age and total score (r=0.172; p=0.013) and perception of emotion (r=0.236; p=0.001). Multiple regression showed a significant positive association between age and the total score (p=0.040), Perception of Emotion (padjusted=0.013) and Managing Others’ Emotions (padjusted=0.020). A significant reduction in the total score (padjusted=0.033), in Managing Own Emotions (padjusted<0.001) and in the Managing Others’ Emotions (padjusted=0.025) was found for volunteers who reported a previous mental disorder. Conclusion: High levels of EI were observed in the 3 years. No association was observed between different EI scores and the course year. There was a positive correlation between age and total EI score, Perception of Emotions, Managing Own Emotions and Managing Others’ Emotions. The presence of a mental disorder was associated with a reduction in the total score and the scores for Managing Own Emotions and Managing Others’ Emotions.