Title: What has emotional intelligence got to do with it: the moderating role of EI on the relationships between workplace incivility and mental health?

Authors: Leanne Carter; Jennifer Loh

Addresses: School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, 6027 Western Australia, Australia ' School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, 6027 Western Australia, Australia

Abstract: Workplace incivility (WI) has detrimental consequences on victims and has been linked positively to depression, anxiety and stress. However, emotional intelligence (EI) which involves the ability to manage one's and other's emotions has been positively associated with lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; suggesting that EI may act as a buffer against stressors. Therefore, the present study tested a model which proposed that EI would moderate the relationships between WI and depression, between WI and anxiety, as well as between WI and stress. Data was collected using an online survey from 184 Australian adult workers. Results indicated that EI moderated the relationships between WI and depression and between WI and stress. Although a main effect was found between WI and anxiety, EI did not significantly moderate the relationship between WI and anxiety. Implications and future directions were discussed.

Keywords: emotional intelligence; workplace incivility; depression; anxiety; stress.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2017.083791

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2017 Vol.8 No.1, pp.41 - 58

Received: 13 Jan 2016
Accepted: 18 Oct 2016
Published online: 22 Apr 2017 *

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