Evaluating Emotional Intelligence, Authentic Leadership, Self-Efficacy, and Perceived Stress Among Diagnostic Radiography Technology Students in Clinical Practice

Background: Research on emotional intelligence and its associations with authentic leadership, general self-efficacy, and perceived stress among allied health students, particularly radiography students, remains scarce. This study described the levels of these constructs among radiography students during clinical practice, examined their interrelationships, and identified the emotional intelligence facets predicting perceived stress and authentic leadership. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 135 radiography students enrolled in clinical practice at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, from March to May 2026 (response rate 61.3%). Data were collected using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, Authentic Leadership Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. Spearman correlations and hierarchical multiple linear regression were performed. Results: Emotional intelligence was positively correlated with authentic leadership (p < 0.001) and general self-efficacy (p = 0.035) and negatively correlated with perceived stress (p = 0.012). Managing Own Emotions was the strongest negative predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.650, p < 0.001), whereas Managing Others’ Emotions was the strongest predictor of authentic leadership (β = 0.463, p < 0.001). General self-efficacy predicted neither outcome. Female students and those with higher GPAs reported higher emotional intelligence and authentic leadership scores. Conclusions: Specific emotional intelligence facets showed distinct predictive roles, with self-directed emotion regulation predicting lower perceived stress and interpersonal emotion management predicting authentic leadership. These findings support the integration of targeted, facet-specific emotional intelligence training within radiography clinical curricula as a potential approach to support stress management and leadership development.