The Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence, Specialty Preference, and Burnout Among Physicians-in-Training

Burnout among physicians-in-training has increased at an alarming rate, leading the American College of Graduate Medical Education to impose mandates aimed at securing their well-being. One factor contributing to burnout is choosing a specialty that is not aligned with one’s personality. Studies have shown that higher emotional intelligence (EQ) skills are associated with better choice-making and lower burnout levels. A survey was used to evaluate the impact of EQ on burnout levels among physicians-in-training who changed their specialty compared to those who remained in their original specialty. There was no difference in burnout and EQ levels between physicians-in-training who changed their specialty and those who did not. Further, this study showed that a change in specialty does not moderate the effect of EQ on burnout. The findings also indicate that culture and support may be important structural factors affecting burnout.