Emotional intelligence over happiness and satisfaction with life among secondary teachers: The moderating role of gender.

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to explore the moderating role of gender in the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Happiness, and between EI and Satisfaction with Life, among secondary teachers. Method: The Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS; Wong & Law, 2002), the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS, Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS, Diener 1985) were administered to 160 secondary teachers from a Spanish community including both genders, ranging from 25 to 77 years old (X = 44.52; s.d. = 8.28). Results: No gender differences in EI, SHS and SWLS were found. Interaction analyses revealed that gender moderated the relationship between EI and happiness, and EI and satisfaction with life. High levels of IE were related to higher levels of happiness (b = .95; p < .001) and satisfaction with life (b = .73; p < .001) in women and to higher levels of happiness in men (b = .34; p < .05). Conclusions: We suggest explanations for these differences between the genders, and discuss the importance of incorporating gender differences in theoretical and empirical studies investigating EI among secondary teachers.