IMPACT OF OPTIMISM ON POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH OF BURN SURVIVORS: ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, GENDER AND SEVERITY OF BURN INJURY

OBJECTIVES: To examine the mediating role of emotional intelligence (EI) between optimism and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among burn survivors and to see the interaction effects of gender and nature of injury on optimism, emotional intelligence and PTG. METHODS: This descriptive correlational study was conducted from 2nd January-30th April 2022, at in-patient department of burn centers of three public hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Out of 250 survivors of moderate and severe burns, selected through purposive sampling strategy, 229 completed the survey via face to face or call contacts. Participants filled out three structured questionnaires along consent form. Later, collected data was analyzed through PROCESS macro v3.5 and SPSS V23.0. RESULTS: Out of 229 patients 139 (60.7%) were males and 90 (39.3%) were females. Mean age was 32.4±3.1 years. Optimism had a direct effect on emotional intelligence, emotions perception, emotions utilization, managing self-relevant emotions, managing other’s emotions, and PTG, p