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

Abstract

Purpose

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.

Materials and methods

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.

Results

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 < 0.001) and EI (UCB = 1.522 & p < 0.001). Moreover, CT seems to be associated in a higher degree (R² change adj = 0.036 & p < 0.001) with emotional intelligence (UCB = 1.522) than with learning environment (UCB = 0.064).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a different more optimal pathway for educators to improve the CT of their students through EI and not with LE as believed till now. By focusing on improving EI, educators may help their students become critical thinkers, who will provide better quality of care.

Keywords:

• Learning environment
• critical thinking
• emotional intelligence
• healthcare students

Acknowledgements

We have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Additionally, we would like to thank Professor Edward Sosu and Professor Ioannis Dimoliatis for the permission to use the CTDS and DREEM questionnaires.

Ethical approval

This study was designed in accordance with the European Data Protection Law (Council of Europe et al. 2019) and the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association 2013), therefore it has been approved by the relevant Research Ethics Committee of the university of Crete (protocol no.: 212/26.11.2019). All data were anonymous and securely saved.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the conception and design of the study; AC, GK and PS were responsible for the data collection and interpretation; ML was involved in data analysis; AC drafted the first draft. IT supervised the whole study and the draft development. All authors revised and gave final approval for the version being submitted.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no declarations of interest to report.

Availability of data and materials

The authors may submit the raw data, on reasonable request from other researchers or centers.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Antonios Christodoulakis

Antonios Christodoulakis, RN, MPH, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.

George Kritsotakis

George Kritsotakis, RN, MSc, PhD, Department of Business Administration & Tourism, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece.

Manolis Linardakis

Manolis Linardakis, Biostatistician, MSc, PhD, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.

Panayota Sourtzi

Panayota Sourtzi, RN, HV, B.Sc., M.Med.Sc., PhD, Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Ioanna Tsiligianni

Ioanna Tsiligianni, MD, MPH/HCM, PhD, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.