The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Job Satisfaction in Physical Education Teachers

The aim of present study was to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and its five domains with job satisfaction in physical education teachers. The research method was descriptive – correlation and statistical population consisted of all physical education teachers of Zanjan province in 1386-1387. Out of 486 physical education teachers, the sample of the study consisted of 215 teachers who were selected by random sampling proportional method. The research instruments were Supriya Schering emotional intelligence questionnaire and job descriptive index (JDI) questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential methods such as Pearson correlation coefficient, stepwise regression coefficient and Fisher's exact test. Research results showed (P≤0.05) showed a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction (r=0.349) and three domains of emotional intelligence (self motivation, empathy, social skills) and job satisfaction. The result of stepwise regression coefficient showed among five domains of emotional intelligence, self motivation (0.442), empathy (0.302) and social skills (0.235) were predictors of job satisfaction in physical education teachers of Zanjan province. Fisher's test showed that the difference in correlation coefficients was significant at p≤0.05 in physical education teachers with diploma and postgraduate certificate. It seems that in addition to providing facilities and meeting teacher's needs, the education and improvement of emotional intelligence will result in teacher's job satisfaction.