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How Does Emotional Intelligence Make One Feel Better at Work? The Mediational Role of Work Engagement

Author

Listed:
  • Natalio Extremera

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

  • Sergio Mérida-López

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

  • Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez

    (Deusto Stress Research, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Cirenia Quintana-Orts

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

Abstract

Although previous research has highlighted the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and job satisfaction, the underlying mechanisms remain relatively unexplored. To address this gap, this study examined employee engagement as a potential mediator of the association. A multi-occupational sample of 405 Spanish professionals completed the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and an Overall Job Satisfaction Scale as well as providing socio-demographic data. As expected, employees’ EI was positively related to engagement dimensions (vigour, dedication and absorption) as well as overall job satisfaction. Bootstrap estimates from multiple mediation analysis confirmed that employees’ perceived EI was indirectly associated with job satisfaction via vigour and dedication scores, even when controlling for the effects of socio-demographic variables. Similarly, the same pattern was found when multiple mediation was conducted for each EI dimension. Our study contributes to understanding of the processes involved in maintaining and enhancing positive attitudes at work, providing the first, encouraging evidence that work engagement play a role in the EI-job satisfaction link. Our results extend the EI literature by elucidating the pathways through which EI is linked to positive employee attitudes and suggests that intervention programs designed to bolster EI might prove effective at increasing job satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Natalio Extremera & Sergio Mérida-López & Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez & Cirenia Quintana-Orts, 2018. "How Does Emotional Intelligence Make One Feel Better at Work? The Mediational Role of Work Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1909-:d:167333
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura Lorente & Núria Tordera & José María Peiró, 2018. "How Work Characteristics Are Related to European Workers’ Psychological Well-Being. A Comparison of Two Age Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Sergio Mérida-López & Natalio Extremera & Lourdes Rey, 2017. "Contributions of Work-Related Stress and Emotional Intelligence to Teacher Engagement: Additive and Interactive Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Judge, Timothy A. & Larsen, Randy J., 2001. "Dispositional Affect and Job Satisfaction: A Review and Theoretical Extension," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 67-98, September.
    4. Raphael M. Herr & Amira Barrech & Natalie Riedel & Harald Gündel & Peter Angerer & Jian Li, 2018. "Long-Term Effectiveness of Stress Management at Work: Effects of the Changes in Perceived Stress Reactivity on Mental Health and Sleep Problems Seven Years Later," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ya Wen & Huaruo Chen & Liman Pang & Xueying Gu, 2020. "The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy of Chinese Vocational College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & Iván Herera-Peco & María del Mar Molero Jurado & Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz & Diego Ayuso-Murillo & José Jesús Gázquez Linares, 2019. "The Development and Validation of the Healthcare Professional Humanization Scale (HUMAS) for Nursing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Annick Parent-Lamarche, 2022. "Teleworking, Work Engagement, and Intention to Quit during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Same Storm, Different Boats?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Martin Sanchez-Gomez & Edgar Breso & Gabriele Giorgi, 2021. "Could Emotional Intelligence Ability Predict Salary? A Cross-Sectional Study in a Multioccupational Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-10, February.

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