Mental Health and Workplace Resilience: The Role of Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

This study examined the predictive and moderating relationships between emotional intelligence (ability and trait), workplace resilience, and mental health. Participants were recruited via opportunistic sampling online at social media sites.  The study sample consisted of 187 employees aged 19-70 from 37 nationalities, who completed measures of emotional intelligence, mental health, and workplace resilience. Participant data were analysed using multiple regression and moderation analysis. Positive correlations between trait emotional intelligence and workplace resilience, and between workplace resilience and mental health were identified. In terms of ability emotional intelligence, only situational emotion management predicted higher workplace resilience. The hypothesis proposing emotional intelligence as a moderating variable between workplace resilience and mental health was not supported. The study concluded that emotional intelligence and workplace resilience are protective factors at the workplace, as well as highlighting the importance of context-specific measurement. Implications for practice include the need for training interventions that incorporate emotional intelligence and workplace resilience to reduce mental health problems at work.

Keywords: workplace resilience, ability emotional intelligence, trait emotional intelligence, mental health, workplace stress, Wellbeing