The Role of Stress in the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health in Iran Premier League Football Referees

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of stress in the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and mental health in Iran football referees. Method was correlational conducted as a field study. Statistical population consisted of all referees and assistant referees of Iran football premier league (2012-2013 season) (N= 79) and the sample was equal to the population. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Job Stress Questionnaire by John Schermerhorn (1974) and Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire by Bradberry and Greaves (1993) were used to collect data. Face and content validities of the questionnaires were verified by physical education professors and experts and their reliability was approved by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics, one-sample t test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used. The results showed a significant and positive relationship between emotional intelligence and mental health, but there was no significant relationship between job stress and mental health and also between job stress and emotional intelligence. Results of regression analysis showed that job stress alone cannot predict referee's mental health. On the other hand, job stress along with emotional intelligence could be a proper predictor of referee's mental health, that is to say an increase in emotional intelligence and a decrease in job stress improved referee's mental health.