An Exploratory Study of Trait Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health in Freshmen Greek Medical Students

The present work aims at evaluating the concept of trait Emotional Intelligence (EI) and the correlation between EI variables and mental health problems in freshman year Greek medical students. Furthermore, we aim to reveal possible connections between these findings regarding gender and intended choice of medical specialty. A total of 206 first year students (81 males and 125 females) enrolled in the University of Patras School of Medicine in 2017, were invited voluntarily to complete on paper the TEIQue-LF for assessing trait EI, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scale, as well as a demographic questionnaire. Male medical students did not differ from females in global trait EI (p = 0.292), however they scored significantly higher on self-esteem (p = 0.019), emotion regulation (p = 0.013), social awareness (p = 0.046), stress management (p = 0.050) and sociability (p = 0.050). Female medical students (n = 125) reported significantly higher levels of anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.004), compared to males (n = 81). Students aiming to specialize in psychiatry, had significantly lower scores in Happiness (p < 0.003), Optimism (p < 0.002) and Well-being (p < 0.0011), and also scored significantly higher in anxiety (p < 0.029). Male medical students reported being significantly more self-confident, more socially competent and better regulating their stress and emotions compared to females, who seemed to have more anxiety and depression at the beginning of their studies. Students who aimed to pursue psychiatry as specialty had more anxiety symptoms, less self-esteem and were less happy. The findings support the need for enhancing EI attributes and remediating students’ mental health problems, particularly in students of a certain emotional profile.