The relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management in healthcare systems: a case study in Iran

Abstract

Background/Aims Both emotional intelligence and conflict resolution are believed to be crucial to organisational leadership, particularly in healthcare settings. This study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management. Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with 194 staff in Yazd, Iran, in 2018. Two standard questionnaires were used for data collection and data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21. Results There was a significant negative relationship (r-0.438) between emotional intelligence and conflict management as a whole, and between all the sub-dimensions of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-regulation, social consciousness and relationship management) and conflict management. Conclusions Research on the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management is divided, but this study suggests that high emotional intelligence does not always indicate that an individual will use conflict management strategies. More research is needed in this area, particularly in the context of healthcare settings.

Nurses’ Experiences of Conflict Management at a Teaching Hospital in Namibia: A Qualitative Study

“…A study by Hadman et al [44] proposed that educating nursing managers about emotional intelligence could improve their confict management skills. While emotional intelligence will not automatically improve confict management [45], it is a tool that can be used in the constructive management of confict. Ultimately, nurses need more education on confict and managing confict situations [42].…”