Association Between Emotional Intelligence and Internal Communication Among Workers at a Healthcare Facility in San Martín, Peru
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55873/9hm1vb79Keywords:
organizational communication, cross-sectional studies, emotional intelligence, health personnel, interpersonal relationsAbstract
The relationship between emotional intelligence and communication in healthcare has been studied mainly through clinical and interpersonal skills, while its link with organizational internal communication remains less developed. This study aimed to examine the association between emotional intelligence and internal communication among workers at a healthcare facility in San Martín, Peru, and to evaluate the contribution of its dimensions. A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted among 190 workers selected through simple random sampling. Emotional intelligence was assessed using a 60-item questionnaire and internal communication using a 22-item questionnaire. The model including emotional intelligence showed better fit than the intercept-only model (χ² = 281.096; df = 57; p < 0.001), with pseudo-R² values of 0.772 for Cox-Snell, 0.773 for Nagelkerke, and 0.195 for McFadden. All dimensions significantly improved model fit (p < 0.001), with intrapersonal and interpersonal dimensions standing out. Emotional intelligence was significantly associated with internal communication, providing evidence of its relevance to organizational communication dynamics without establishing causality.
References
Barrett, A. K., Ford, J., & Zhu, Y. (2023). Communication Overload in Hospitals: Exploring Organizational Safety Communication, Worker Job Attitudes, and Communication Efficacy. Health Communication, 38(13), 2971–2985. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2129313
Candeias, A. A. (2025). Emotional Intelligence in Portuguese Youth: Age and Gender Differences. Journal of Intelligence, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence13040048
Chaudry, A., Hussain, P. M., Halari, S., Thakor, S., Sivapalan, A., Ikar, A., Okhiria, T., & Meyer, E. (2024). What Is the Impact of Leaders with Emotional Intelligence on Proxy Performance Metrics in 21st Century Healthcare?—A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111531
Cichoń, J., Płaszewska-Żywko, L., & Kózka, M. (2023). Emotional intelligence and coping strategies among intensive care unit nurses. Nursing in Critical Care, 28(2), 322–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12839
Darcho, S. D., Ayele, B. H., Demena, M., Firdisa, D., Shawel, S., & Berhanu, A. (2024). Organizational Communication Skills and Its Associated Factors Among Healthcare Providers Working at Wolaita Sodo Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 17, 79–88. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S445682
Diamantidou, V., Fradelos, E. C., Kalokairinou, A., Kaitelidou, D., & Galanis, P. (2025). Comparing predictors of emotional intelligence among medical and nursing staff in national health system and military hospitals: A cross-sectional study in Greece. AIMS Public Health, 12(3), 657–674. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2025034
Fernández García, M. P., Méndez-Valdivia, M., & Antonio Labra, J. (2025). Psychometric properties and validation of the EQ-I:S five factor questionary of emotional intelligence (Baron-On, 2002) in Spanish university students. Revista de Investigacion En Educacion, 23(1), 42–60. https://doi.org/10.35869/reined.v23i1.6108
Ghrayeb, F., Zaben, K., Haddad, R. H., Ghrayeb, N., Barhoush, M., Zuraikat, N., & Abuejheisheh, A. J. (2025). Exploring the relationship between emotional intelligence and communication skills in nurses: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03679-5
Hathaway, J. R., Tarini, B. A., Banerjee, S., Smolkin, C. O., Koos, J. A., & Pati, S. (2023). Healthcare team communication training in the United States: A scoping review. Health Communication, 38(9), 1821–1846. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2036439
He, Q., Ye, Y., Liang, J., & Zheng, B. (2026). The relationship between emotional intelligence and resilience in healthcare practitioners and students: a multilevel meta-analysis. BMC Medical Education, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-08619-8
Horne, M. J., Allbright, M., Galbraith, D. A., & Patel, A. (2024). Emotional Intelligence in Medicine: An Investigation of the Significance for Physicians, Residents, and Medical Students – A Systematic Review. Journal of Surgical Education, 81(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.103307
Johnson, N. L., & Moeckli, J. (2024). Conceptualizations of interprofessional communication in intensive care units: findings from a scoping review. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 17(2), 130–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2023.2297124
Jovanović, A., Drobac, M., Vidović, B., Krajnović, D., Pavlović, D., & Tadić, I. (2026). Development and initial content and face validation of a questionnaire to evaluate pharmacists’ attitudes and practices in counselling urinary tract infection patients: A mixed methods study. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100702
Kang, Y., & Kim, J.-H. (2024). Influence of Emotional Intelligence of Experienced Nurses on Nursing Managerial Competence: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Communication Competence. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration, 30(1), 79–90. https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2024.30.1.79
Kawashima, T., Ota, Y., Aikawa, G., Watanabe, M., Ashida, K., & Sakuramoto, H. (2025). Effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on nurses’ and nursing students’ emotional intelligence, resilience, stress, and communication skills: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today, 151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106743
Kosydar-Bochenek, J., Kobak, J., Szczupak, M., Będkowski, J. H., & Krupa-Nurcek, S. (2026). Delivering bad news in clinical practice: the role of communication skills and emotional intelligence among Polish healthcare professionals. BMC Medical Education, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08222-3
Lee, D. G., & Choi, M.-Y. (2023). Effects of Emotional Intelligence on Job Satisfaction of Pediatric Nurses: The Mediating Effect of Communication Skills and Pediatric Nurse-Parent Partnership. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 53(5), 514–524. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.23044
McHugh, G. S., Butcher, I., Steyerberg, E. W., Lu, J., Mushkudiani, N., Mabmarou, A., Maas, A. I. R., & Murray, G. D. (2007). Statistical approaches to the univariate prognostic analysis of the IMPACT database on traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 24(2), 251–258. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2006.0026
Mohammed, A. H., Ying, L. H., Boon Hong, M. L., Sze Nee, A. W., Ying, L. S., Ramachandram, D. S., & Hassan, B. A. (2024). Development and validation of a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire for skin cancer in the general public: KAP-SC-Q. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 20(2), 124–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.10.009
Moreira, M. T., Lima, A., Ferreira, S., & Fernandes, C. (2026). Emotional management, empathy and emotional intelligence in mental health nursing: Educational insights from a scoping review. Nurse Education in Practice, 92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2026.104776
Musitia, P., Boga, M., Oluoch, D., Haaland, A., Nzinga, J., English, M., & Molyneux, S. (2022). Strengthening respectful communication with patients and colleagues in neonatal units — developing and evaluating a communication and emotional competence training for nurse managers in Kenya. Wellcome Open Research, 7. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18006.1
Pirrotta, L., Ferrari, A., Cantarelli, P., & Belle, N. (2024). Communication and job satisfaction among public employees: evidence from large-scale surveys with healthcare professionals. International Journal of Public Sector Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-07-2024-0222
Rezaee, R., Zare, S., Niknam, F., Akbari, A., Shirdeli, M., Falahati, F., & Aghajani, S. (2022). Contributing Factors in Hospital Internal Communication based on Hospital Managers and Healthcare Personnel’s Attitudes: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System, 10(3), 342–350. https://doi.org/10.30476/jhsss.2021.91998.1278
Roman, A., & Pineiro, A. V. (2023). Nursing Communication Skills Training: Added Importance during Crises. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 39(4), E86–E92. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000868
Saffari, S. E., Löve, A., Fredrikson, M., & Smedby, O. (2015). Regression models for analyzing radiological visual grading studies - an empirical comparison. BMC Medical Imaging, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-015-0083-y
Sanchis-Giménez, L., Lacomba-Trejo, L., Prado-Gascó, V., & Giménez-Espert, M. D. C. (2023). Attitudes towards Communication in Nursing Students and Nurses: Are Social Skills and Emotional Intelligence Important? Healthcare (Switzerland), 11(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081119
Song, G., & Kim, O. (2022). Influences of Organizational Communication Satisfaction and Safety Climate on Medication Safety Competence in Hospital Nurse. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration, 28(3), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2022.28.3.297
Sun, Y., Zhang, J., & Shi, B. (2026). Development and Psychometric Validation of a Questionnaire Assessing Gynecologic Oncology Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Providing Sexual Health Care. Healthcare (Switzerland), 14(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14142049
Vallmark, M., Brorsson, A. L., Sparud-Lundin, C., Bratt, E.-L., Moons, P., Saarijärvi, M., & Mora, M. A. (2023). Development and psychometric evaluation of TEXP-Q: a questionnaire measuring transition and transfer experiences in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-023-00652-1
Zheng, X., Preis, H., Whitney, C., Bojsza, E., & Pati, S. (2025). Burnout and Professional Fulfillment: Associations With Interprofessional Communication Skills and Climate Among Clinical Health Professionals. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 67(6), 425–430. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003355
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Cynthia Pamela Vera-Gutiérrez, Mónica Elisa Meneses-La-Rivas, Sara Edith Castillo-Olsson
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
