Relationship between emotional intelligence and job well-being in Chinese clinical nurses: multiple mediating effects of empathy and communication satisfaction

Xue Li,Yajie Song,Hongjuan Chang,Rui Liu,Jianli Yang,Quanying Zhang

doi:10.1186/s12912-021-00658-4

Xue Li, Yajie Song + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00658-4

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Abstract

BackgroundNursing work is associated with great pressure, and nurses are often overwhelmed. Therefore, correct emotional regulation is essential to improve nurses’ job well-being and promote better engagement in nursing work. The purpose of this study was to establish a structural model to estimate the impact of Chinese clinical nurses’ emotional intelligence on job well-being, using multiple intermediaries to explain the internal mechanisms underlying the relationship.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 1475 registered nurses from a Chinese hospital who provided responses to emotional intelligence, empathy, communication satisfaction, and job well-being scales. Path analysis using a multiple mediation model was performed using AMOS 23.0.ResultsAmong all clinical nurses who participated in the survey, 1475 (98.33 %) completed the questionnaire. The nurses’ job well-being score was 83.61 ± 12.63. There was a significant positive correlation between job well-being and communication satisfaction, emotional intelligence, and empathy ability (r = 0.346–0.570, P < 0.001). Empathy and communication satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between emotional intelligence and job well-being, with effect sizes of 0.047 and 0.227, respectively. The chain mediating effect of empathy and communication satisfaction had a value of 0.045.ConclusionsIt is recommended that hospital managers take actions to improve nurses’ emotional intelligence level, and conduct professional psychological training to improve nurses’ empathy and communication satisfaction, and ultimately improve their job well-being.

Highlights

Nursing work is associated with great pressure, and nurses are often overwhelmed
Through searching and reviewing the relevant literature, we found that hospital managers have only begun to pay attention to nurses’ job well-being in recent years, and there is a lack of theoretical foundation for research on job well-being in the nursing profession
Job well-being is a comprehensive indicator that is affected by many factors; this study explored the mechanisms underlying the relationship between job well-being and emotional intelligence, empathy, and communication satisfaction

Summary

Introduction

Correct emotional regulation is essential to improve nurses’ job well-being and promote better engagement in nursing work. Since the 1950 s, positive psychology has increased in prominence, and researchers have paid greater attention to the study of people’s positive mental states, well-being and other related concepts [1]. Research has revealed that a high level of job well-being has a positive impact on nurses’ work enthusiasm, efficiency, and job satisfaction, while a low level of job well-being results in problems such as work-related exhaustion and increased conflict with patients [4]. Research has indicated that nurses’ job well-being is related to factors such as high work pressure, work satisfaction, and poor organisational management [8,9,10]

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