Relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress among managers and employees of teaching hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Health Care

Emotional intelligence covers a range of abilities and non-cognitive skills that increase an individual's success in fighting against environmental stress contingency, especially job stress. The aim of the present study was to find out the relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress. This study was a descriptive one which was done on 200 subjects selected from the managers and employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Health Care in 2007. Standard emotional intelligence and job stress questionnaires were used to gather data. The obtained information was analyzed by means of statistical tests including Pearson's correlation, step-by-step regression, T-test and ANOVA at the significant level of P<0.05. It was found that there was a significant difference in emotional intelligence and job stress between the two genders (P<0.05). Besides, a reverse significant correlation was observed between emotional intelligence and job stress (P<0.05). Various components of emotional intelligence, particularly self-consciousness, sympathy, and self-motivation, had a significant role in anticipating job stress. Having favorable components of emotional intelligence will lead to reduction of job stress. Thus, it is suggested that all organizations, especially medical services, hold requisite educational courses to promote and increase emotional intelligence and decrease job stress.