Teachers’ life satisfaction: A structural equation model analyzing the role of trait emotion regulation, intrinsic job satisfaction and affect

The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction among Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Also, life satisfaction can be predicted positively by job satisfaction (H2), which is consistent with the other studies [ 39 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. This study proved that emotional intelligence and life satisfaction are interrelated, supporting H3 and previous studies [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Finally, H4 was confirmed indicating that job satisfaction partially plays a mediating role in associating emotional intelligence and life satisfaction.…”

“…Emotional intelligence was also found as a positive predictor of life satisfaction in adolescents [ 31 ], undergraduates [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], teachers [ 39 , 40 , 41 ], and adults from China [ 42 ] and Australia [ 43 ]. Life satisfaction is one of three core components of subjective well-being and positive and negative affect [ 44 ].…”

“…Although previous studies found associations between these three variables, the mediation model was never thoroughly tested. Since emotional intelligence is a positive predictor of job satisfaction [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] and life satisfaction [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ], while job satisfaction is a strong positive predictor of life satisfaction [ 39 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ], it is expected that emotional intelligence has an indirect positive impact on satisfaction with life, via job satisfaction. Brunetto et al [ 29 ] found the partial mediating effect of well-being on the association between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction among police officers.…”

“…Fu et al [ 41 ] found the mediating effect of work engagement (strongly related to job satisfaction) on the relationship between emotional intelligence and general well-being in special education teachers from China. Finally, a recent study showed that trait emotion regulation directly affects life satisfaction, but there is no association between trait emotion regulation and intrinsic job satisfaction [ 40 ]. In contrast to this previous study [ 40 ], using a single component of emotional intelligence (trait emotion regulation) and job satisfaction (intrinsic dimension), this study will use a global composite score for the trait emotional intelligence and job satisfaction.…”

“…Finally, a recent study showed that trait emotion regulation directly affects life satisfaction, but there is no association between trait emotion regulation and intrinsic job satisfaction [ 40 ]. In contrast to this previous study [ 40 ], using a single component of emotional intelligence (trait emotion regulation) and job satisfaction (intrinsic dimension), this study will use a global composite score for the trait emotional intelligence and job satisfaction. The following hypotheses are formulated based on the above-presented literature review:…”