Job stress and job performance among employees in the Taiwanese finance sector: The role of emotional intelligence

Abstract

Prior empirical research findings regarding the relationship between job stress and job performance are inconsistent. It was argued in this study that one reason for these inconsistent results may be an existing moderating effect. Stress does not always result directly from the source of pressure itself, but rather from the perception of that pressure. Therefore, individual difference variables (e.g., emotional intelligence) that might relate to that perception should also be considered. The effects of emotional intelligence on the relationship between job stress and job performance were investigated with a sample of employees in the Taiwanese finance sector. The results indicated that emotional intelligence had a positive impact on job performance and moderated this relationship. In this respect, highly emotionally intelligent employees are more likely than are low emotional intelligence employees to be able to reduce or transform the potential negative effects of job stress on job performance. The results of this study clarify knowledge of stress effects and, thus, the usefulness of stress management practices can be improved and enhanced.