Exploring associations among emotional intelligence, psychological capital, and professional identity in undergraduate medical interns: a cross-sectional study

Based on Social Cognitive Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, this study investigated the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and professional identity (PI) among undergraduate medical interns, specifically examining the mediating role of psychological capital (PsyCap). A convenience sampling method was employed to survey 382 undergraduate medical interns from six teaching hospitals in Eastern China. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and the PROCESS macro. The results indicated that: (1) EI is significantly and positively associated with PI; (2) EI is significantly and positively correlated with predicted PsyCap; (3) PsyCap is significantly and positively related with PI; and (4) PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between EI and PI. This study reveals that emotional intelligence is not only directly associated with professional identity but also exhibits an indirect correlation through intrinsic psychological resources. The findings provide theoretical support for exploring pathways that may inform future interventions in Eastern Chinese municipal teaching hospitals to mitigate professional identity crises among interns.