Abstract

The present research intended to study the share of emotional intelligence and cognitive-behavioral readiness for change in predicting creative problem-solving. The statistical population included all students at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Qom Islamic Azad University. Multi-stage cluster sampling was employed to select 200 students. Robitschek’s Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS) for measuring cognitive-behavioral readiness for change, Salovey’s Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS) for measuring emotional intelligence, and Basadur’s Creative Problem Solving Profile (CPSP) were distributed among the students to be completed by them. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using a regression model. Results indicated that emotional intelligence and readiness for change (personal growth) predict CPSP. In relation to subscales, results of regression analysis revealed that two components related to “cognitive-behavioral readiness for change” (readiness for change and intentional behavior) together with two of the scales belonging to “emotional intelligence” (emotional clarity and emotional repair) significantly predict “creative problem solving” by students. Moreover, emotion management and cognitive-behavioral readiness for change can influence the ability to solve problems creatively.