Emotional Intelligence and Stress Coping Strategies among Dental Professionals in Chennai, India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between EI and stress coping strategies among dental professionals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 588 dental professionals, including undergraduate and postgraduate students and qualified dentists, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from May to July 2024. Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations-21 and Schutte Self-Report EI Test questionnaires were administered to dental professionals using a convenience sampling method. Pearson's correlation test and multivariable linear regression were carried out to evaluate the relationship between EI and stress coping strategies. RESULTS: The overall mean EI score for undergraduate students (141.6 ± 38.49) was higher compared with that of qualified dentists (137.6 ± 40.96; P = 0.033). The mean task-oriented coping was found to be higher among qualified dental professionals (4.358 ± 1.963) compared with undergraduate students. EI showed a moderate positive correlation with task-oriented coping (r = 0.319; P = 0.000) and a weak positive correlation with avoidance coping (r = 0.198; P = 0.020), whereas a moderate negative correlation was observed with emotion-oriented coping (r = -0.600; P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: EI demonstrated significant associations with specific coping domains among dental professionals. Higher EI was associated with greater task-oriented coping and lower emotion-oriented and avoidant coping after adjusting for gender and professional category.