Emotional intelligence correlated with lower stress and depression in veterinary medicine students in the Midwestern United States.

Higher emotional intelligence is significantly associated with lower stress and depression in veterinary medicine students.

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression among veterinary medicine students across Midwestern US universities. A 57-item survey was distributed via email over a one-month period, yielding 184 completed responses. The survey captured demographic information alongside validated measures of psychological variables and emotional intelligence. Results revealed alarmingly high prevalence rates of mental health concerns: 89.1% of students reported moderate to high stress, 58% reported clinically significant anxiety, and 29.8% screened positive for depression. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant negative correlations between emotional intelligence and both stress (r[182] = -0.362; P < .01) and depression (r[182] = -0.349; P < .01), indicating that students with higher EI reported lower levels of these psychological burdens. No significant correlation with anxiety was highlighted as a primary finding. The authors propose that veterinary programs could leverage EI assessments as a screening tool to identify at-risk students early and direct them toward appropriate support services. Additionally, incorporating EI-focused mental health curriculum into veterinary education is recommended as a proactive strategy. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which precludes causal inference, self-report bias, and potential sampling limitations. The authors call for longitudinal research to explore causal relationships between EI and reduced mental health burden in this high-stress professional population.

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