The Effects of an Emotional Quotient Development Program on the Emotional Quotient of First-Year Nursing Students at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Nakhon Ratchasima

Abstract

This was a quasi-experimental study with a two-group pretest-posttest design to study the effects of an Emotional Quotient Development Program (EDP). The research objectives were: 1) to assess the emotional quotient levels of first-year nursing students; 2) to assess the effect of an Emotional quotient Development Program on their emotional quotient level. The program was developed by the researchers to cover all components of the subjects’ emotional quotient, as defined by the Department of Mental Health, including excellence in their learning achievement, emotional maturity and happiness. The program utilized a learner-centered approach and applied experiential learning theory in its ten activities which were conducted twice a week for 60-90 minutes per session. The sample consisted of 26 nursing students with emotional quotient scores ranging from below normal to normal, randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=13) or the control group (n=13). The research instrument included an emotional quotient scale with a reliability coefficient (alpha) of 0.91 and the emotional quotient development program, which had content validity indices ranging from 0.67 to 1.00.

The results indicated the following: First. the overall level of emotional quotient of 50.30% of the nursing students was found to be 50.30%, the highest normal level, and 35.86% of the students’ emotional quotient was higher than the normal level. Secondly, the results of the program were as follows: 2.1) the emotional quotient of the experimental group statistically significantly increased after participating in the program (p< .05). 2.2). Furthermore, the experimental group emotional quotient was also statistically significantly than the control group (p< .05) after completing the program. These results suggest that the emotional quotient development program can effectively enhance the emotional quotient of nursing students, or students with similar characteristics, thereby improving their adaptability and performance in the nursing profession.