Validity and Reliability of the Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) in Cuban Dental Students in COVID-19 Times

Abstract

Introduction: The pandemic produced by SARS-CoV-2 impacted on educative systems, which justifies the necessity of research about the emotional capacities of the university students to face the challenges that COVID-19 imposes. Objective: To analyze the evidences of validity and reliability of the Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) in Cuban dental students. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study with instrumental design. The scale was administered through a virtual questionnaire and later distributed by means of social networks to 307 students (81 male and 226 female). A confirmatory factorial analysis was performed and the intern consistency and the relation between the scale and other variables were evaluated. Results: Through the confirmatory factorial analysis, the model of four correlationated factors was evaluated and an adequate adjust was found, χ2(98) = 303.1, P < .001, CFI = 0.948, TLI = 0.937, RMSEA = 0.083 and SRMR = 0.064. The results of the Omega intern consistency are ωSEA = 0.84, ωOEA = 0.77, ωUOE = 0.83 and ωUROE = 0.91. With respect to the relation of WLEIS with other variables, we had correlations ranging from 0.22 and 0.51 with general well-being, and inverse correlations ranging from −1 and −0.29 of three of its dimensions with depression, showing evidences of convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusion: The WLEIS in Cuban dental students in COVID-19 times resulted be valid and reliable.