Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Self-Elasticity and Career Identity of Dental Hygiene Students

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out whether the career identity of dental hygiene students is related to emotional intelligence and self-elasticity. Methods: The subjects were 318 students in the first, second, and third grades. Career identity refers to self-confidence in oneself, and emotional intelligence is a factor that determines one's thoughts and actions by understanding, discriminating, and controlling the emotions of oneself and others. Self-elasticity is flexibility that controls individual abilities and allows them to grow positively. Results: Factors affecting career identity were found to have an effect on major satisfaction, academic performance, emotional intelligence, and self-elasticity, and explanatory power was 38.6% (F: 20.690 p=0.001). Conclusions: It is necessary to strengthen career identity by creating positive goals for the job and improving positive emotional tendencies.