Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Regulation Strategies, and Subjective Well-Being Among University Teachers: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Jingrong Sha; Tianqi Tang; Hong Shu; Kejian He; Sha Shen

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.811260

Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Regulation Strategies, and Subjective Well-Being Among University Teachers: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Front Psychol. 2022 Jan 10:12:811260. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.811260. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jingrong Sha^{1

2}, Tianqi Tang¹, Hong Shu¹, Kejian He³, Sha Shen¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Educational Science and Technology, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China.
² Key Laboratory of China's Ethnic Languages and Information Technology of Ministry of Education, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China.
³ Faculty of Law and Public Administration, College of Science and Technology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the mediating role of emotional regulation strategies in the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and subjective well-being (SWB) among Chinese university teachers, and evaluate whether effort-reward imbalance moderated the mediating effect of emotional regulation strategies. A total of 308 Chinese university teachers were recruited for this study. The results showed that emotional regulation strategies played a partial mediating role in the relationship between EI and SWB. Moreover, an effort-reward imbalance moderated the relationship between emotional regulation strategies and SWB. For individuals with more balanced perceptions, EI had a significant effect on SWB via cognitive reappraisal, while for individuals with more imbalanced perceptions, EI did not have a significant effect on SWB via cognitive reappraisal. These findings provide a better understanding of the effects of EI and emotional regulation strategies on SWB, which could provide interventions for promoting SWB among teachers.

Keywords: effort-reward imbalance; emotional intelligence; emotional regulation strategies; subjective well-being; university teachers.