Differences in medical students’ emotional intelligence and empathy according to academic year and sex
10.11307/mededjapan.44.315
- VernacularTitle:医学生のEmotional Intelligence（EI）とEmpathy : 性差および学年差の検討
- Author:
Keiko Abe
;
Kazuhiko Fujisaki
;
Masayuki Niwa
;
Yasuyuki Suzuki
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Emotional Intelligence;
TEIQue-SF;
Empathy;
Medical students;
Cross-sectional study
- From:Medical Education
2013;44(5):315-326
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Objectives: To clarify differences in medical students’ emotional intelligence and empathy among 4 school years and sex.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 370 medical students in years 1, 2, 4, and 6 was performed with Japanese versions of 2 self-reported questionnaires: the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form （TEIQue-SF） and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy–Student Version （JSPE-S）.
Results: Total scores of the TEIQue–SF tended to decrease in higher school years. However, the total score of the JSPE-S was significantly increased in year 6 but was decreased in year 4. Male students had higher TEIQue–SF scores, and female students had higher JSPE-S scores. Of the 4 factors of the TEIQue–SF compared （well-being, self-control, emotionality, and sociability）, only sociability was higher in males. No differences were found among school years. The scores of the TEIQue–SF and the JSPE-S showed a weak correlation. Of the factors of the TEIQue–SF, only self-control showed no correlation with the JSPE-S.
Discussion and Conclusion: These results suggest that the emotional intelligence of both male and female medical students tends to decline. The increase in JSPE-S scores in year 6 suggests that medical interview training is effective. Furthermore, training is important both to enhance emotional intelligence and to teach self-control skills.
