INVESTIGATING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND WORK ENGAGEMENT AMONG FEMALE WORKERS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

2 Department of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: Workplace mental health initiatives have a positive impact on productivity. Vigor, dedication, and absorption are the three sub-dimensions of work engagement, which is a positive motivating, and emotional state during work. By
creating a postive work environment, emotional intelligence and physical activity are essential for raising employee motivation and engagement. Aim of Work: To evaluate the relation between female employees’ work engagement, physical exercise, and emotional intelligence. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire comprising the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and an Emotional Intelligence self-assessment was used in a cross-sectional study involving 200 female employees. Results: The age of 60% of the studied females
were ≤ 35 years old, 30% were physicians. The median (Interquartile Range (IR)) total work engagement score of the participants was 64 (59-77), 25.5 % had good Emotional Self-awareness, 10.5 % had good Self-management, 30.5 % had good Motivation, 29% had good Empathy, 4% had good Relationship Management. According to Physical Activity Index (PAI), 55.5% of the studied participants were physically inactive. Higher Self-management score, higher Empathy score and higher PAI score were significant independent single predictors for greater total work engagement score. Meanwhile age, number of children, working days/ week, working years, emotional self-awareness score, self-management score, motivation score and empathy score were significant independent multiple predictors for work engagement score. Conclusion: Emotional Intelligence and Physical Activity have a vital effect on work engagement

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