The relationship between emotional intelligence and resilience in healthcare practitioners and students: a multilevel meta-analysis

Healthcare practitioners operate in high-pressure environments characterized by complex interpersonal dynamics, making emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience critical competencies. This meta-analysis systematically examines the association between EI and resilience among healthcare practitioners and explores potential moderating factors. A comprehensive search of six databases (ERIC, Web of Science, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus) was conducted through September 2024. The analysis incorporated data from 34 studies involving 8,515 participants, yielding 90 effect sizes. Results revealed a strong positive correlation between EI and resilience (r = .523, 95% CI [.473, .568], p < .001). Notably, this relationship was significantly stronger among practicing healthcare practitioners compared to students. Moderator analyses indicated that EI and resilience measurement tools significantly influenced effect sizes, and regional differences were evident: Europe displayed a weaker association between emotional intelligence and resilience than Asia. Across groups, ability-based EI was more strongly linked to resilience than trait-based EI. However, resilience type, age, gender, and other factors showed no significant moderation effects. The findings highlight a positive relationship between EI and resilience, with stronger associations observed among practitioners than students. This cross-sectional pattern is consistent with the idea that workplace demands and accumulated experience may be associated with a closer linkage between EI and resilience. Together with prior evidence that EI and resilience can be developed, this provides a rationale for integrating EI and resilience training into healthcare education and practice to support practitioners’ adaptability in high-pressure clinical settings.