Emotional intelligence is more important than the learning environment in improving critical thinking

• Published in: Medical teacher 2023-07, Vol.45 (7), p.708-716
• Main Authors: Christodoulakis, Antonios, Kritsotakis, George, Linardakis, Manolis, Sourtzi, Panayota, Tsiligianni, Ioanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: College students; Critical thinking; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Environment; Emotional Intelligence; Female; Health care; healthcare students; Humans; Learning environment; Male; Medical schools; Nursing; Personality; Quality of care; Regression analysis; School environment; Students; Thinking; Universities
• ISSN: 0142-159X; 1466-187X
• DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2023.2193305

To examine the association of critical thinking (CT) and emotional intelligence (EI) versus CT and learning environment (LE) in order to investigate which has the greatest influence EI or LE. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 340 s-year healthcare university students in two nursing and one medical schools from three universities in Greece, between October and December 2020. Critical Thinking Disposition Scale, Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure, and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form were administered. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, with five steps, was used to compare the associations of CT and EI to CT and LE. Participants' mean age (years) was 20.9 (6.6 SD); 82.6% female; 86.8% studying nursing. Students mean scores were moderate to high for CT disposition (44.7 ± 4.68). The general characteristics (age, gender, and school) were not significantly associated with CT (p > 0.05). However, CT was positively associated with LE (UCB = 0.064 & p