Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study

© 2018, The Author(s) 2018. Introduction: Emotional intelligence competencies assist occupational therapists in responding in a manner that enables them to be effective healthcare practitioners. Method: This longitudinal study tracked the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy and business s...

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Main Authors: Gribble, Nigel, Ladyshewsky, Rick, Parsons, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: The College of Occupational Therapists - UK 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68088
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author Gribble, Nigel
Ladyshewsky, Rick
Parsons, R.
author_facet Gribble, Nigel
Ladyshewsky, Rick
Parsons, R.
author_sort Gribble, Nigel
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2018, The Author(s) 2018. Introduction: Emotional intelligence competencies assist occupational therapists in responding in a manner that enables them to be effective healthcare practitioners. Method: This longitudinal study tracked the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy and business students using the Emotional Quotient Inventory 2.0 at three time-points over the final 16 months of their university programme. Results: Undergraduate occupational therapy students (n = 139 at time-point 1; n = 52 at time-point 3) completed a mean of 117 days of practice education. Before occupational therapy students commenced placements, emotional intelligence scores were significantly lower than population norms in self-regard, self-expression, assertiveness, independence, problem-solving, stress management, stress tolerance and flexibility. By the end of their programme, students reported significant increases in the emotional intelligence realms of total emotional intelligence score, self-perception, decision-making, self-actualisation, emotional self-awareness, independence and reality testing. However, assertiveness, problem-solving and stress tolerance remained relatively low, and other emotional intelligence domains remained below the population norms. The business students who did zero practice placements showed no increase in any emotional intelligence domains over the same period. Conclusion: Emotional intelligence skills are malleable and can improve during practice placements. Supervisors and employers should encourage students and new graduates to practice their emotional intelligence skills under supervision and then provide feedback, so they are better prepared for the emotional demands of healthcare workplaces.
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publishDate 2018
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-680882018-05-18T08:07:20Z Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study Gribble, Nigel Ladyshewsky, Rick Parsons, R. © 2018, The Author(s) 2018. Introduction: Emotional intelligence competencies assist occupational therapists in responding in a manner that enables them to be effective healthcare practitioners. Method: This longitudinal study tracked the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy and business students using the Emotional Quotient Inventory 2.0 at three time-points over the final 16 months of their university programme. Results: Undergraduate occupational therapy students (n = 139 at time-point 1; n = 52 at time-point 3) completed a mean of 117 days of practice education. Before occupational therapy students commenced placements, emotional intelligence scores were significantly lower than population norms in self-regard, self-expression, assertiveness, independence, problem-solving, stress management, stress tolerance and flexibility. By the end of their programme, students reported significant increases in the emotional intelligence realms of total emotional intelligence score, self-perception, decision-making, self-actualisation, emotional self-awareness, independence and reality testing. However, assertiveness, problem-solving and stress tolerance remained relatively low, and other emotional intelligence domains remained below the population norms. The business students who did zero practice placements showed no increase in any emotional intelligence domains over the same period. Conclusion: Emotional intelligence skills are malleable and can improve during practice placements. Supervisors and employers should encourage students and new graduates to practice their emotional intelligence skills under supervision and then provide feedback, so they are better prepared for the emotional demands of healthcare workplaces. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68088 10.1177/0308022618763501 The College of Occupational Therapists - UK restricted
spellingShingle Gribble, Nigel
Ladyshewsky, Rick
Parsons, R.
Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study
title Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study
title_full Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study
title_fullStr Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study
title_full_unstemmed Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study
title_short Changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: A longitudinal study
title_sort changes in the emotional intelligence of occupational therapy students during practice education: a longitudinal study
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68088