The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Non-cognitive Factors in Dental Students

Muath Aldosari, Muath A. Aldosari, BDS, MPH, DMSc, Assistant Professor at the Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Lecturer at the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America

Sang E. Park, Sang E. Park, DDS, MMSc, Associate Dean for Dental Education, Office of Dental Education, Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and the non-cognitive components of student data, such as age, gender, gap year prior to starting dental school, and number of adversities experienced in life. A validated EI questionnaire was sent to the dental students from the graduation classes of 2021 through 2024 in the predoctoral program at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). Self-reported demographic and non-cognitive student data on age, gender, and number of gap years, and whether the student experienced adversities in life were obtained. Bivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between self-reported EI score and the non-cognitive student data. Seventy (48.6%) DMD students consented to filling out a self-rated EI survey; 64.3% of them were females. Age was found to be statistically associated (p < 0.05) with social awareness score. Male gender was found to be statistically associated with relationship management score. No statistical association was found between total EI score and age, gender, nor number of gap year. Interestingly, the strongest correlation was found between EI score and gap year (r= 0.12). Additionally, students age 26 and above reported higher EI scores compared to younger students. Non-cognitive student factors, such as age, gender, gap year, and life adversities, did not show statistically significant correlation in relation to emotional intelligence in the cohort of the study. These results suggest that although the non-cognitive student data can serve as an important resource in student selection and performance, further studies are needed to better understand their association with the level of emotional intelligence.

Keywords
Emotional intelligence, Admissions, Predoctoral dental program, Non-cognitive student data

Cite this paper
Natalie Wen, Muath Aldosari, Sang E. Park, The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Non-cognitive Factors in Dental Students , SCIREA Journal of Clinical Medicine. Volume 6, Issue 4, August 2021 | PP. 274-289. 10.54647/cm32558

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