The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Fear of Pain in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence levels on the fear of pain for patients undergoing surgical intervention.

Design: This descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 254 patients.

Methods: Data were collected using the Personal Characteristics Information Form, Modified Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III, and Numerical Pain Form. A correlational analysis was performed.

Findings: The mean age of patients was 47.33 ± 17.70 years, and 57.9% (n = 147) were female. More than half of the patients (n = 174) were experiencing a certain degree of preoperative pain. A positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between the mean scores of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. Female patients had significantly more fear of pain and higher scores in the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III (optimism/mood regulation, utilization of emotions) and the Emotional Intelligence Scale.

Conclusions: The patients who manage "optimism/mood regulation" and have increasing levels of Emotional Intelligence could have a relatively higher fear of experiencing severe pain in the preoperative period. Despite the fear of experiencing severe pain, the patients tried to turn this negative situation into a positive one, as the dimensions of their emotional intelligence that provide and manage optimism/mood regulation were at a high level. The increasing level of Emotional Intelligence and "appraisal of emotions" might result in a decrease in the levels of fear of "minor pain" and "medical pain".