A study on the relationship between perceived stress, self-efficacy and emotional intelligence of rehabilitation therapy students in China

Aim: To understand the overall levels of stress perception, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence among Chinese rehabilitation therapy students and to explore the relationship between the three. Methods: From October to November 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 145 cases of rehabilitation therapy students at a medical school in Gansu, China, using the Stress Perception Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. Results: The total score of perceived stress was (44.33±7.05), the total score of emotional intelligence was (48.06±6.40), and the total score of general self-efficacy was (25.8±6.04), and there was a significant positive correlation between all three (r>0.490,P<0.01). Emotional intelligence had a significant mediating effect phenomenon between stress perception and general self-efficacy. Conclusion: Students in rehabilitation therapy had moderate levels of stress perception, emotional intelligence, and general self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence partially mediated the effect between general self-efficacy and stress perception. It is suggested that educators should actively assess the level of stress in rehabilitation therapy majors, pay more attention to students' emotional intelligence, improve self-efficacy, and prepare for the development of targeted intervention programs later.