The Mediating Effects of Emotional Intelligence and Social Support in the Relationships between Emotional Regulation Efforts in Profession and Job Satisfaction among Nurses

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the mediating effects of emotional intelligence and social support in the relationships between emotional regulation efforts in profession and job satisfaction among nurses in a tertiary hospital. Methods : The participants were 128 registered nurses excluding those less than 6 months of clinical experience in a tertiary hospital. The data collection was conducted from September 2023. For the data analysis, SPSS/WIN 27.0 program was used. The data were identified with frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and Baron and Kenny’s 3-stage procedures. To test the statistical significance of the mediating effects was verified using PROCESS Macro Model 4 by the bootstrapping method. Results : Job satisfaction had a positive correlation with emotional regulation efforts in profession(r=.54, p<.001), emotional intelligence(r=.62, p<.001), and social support(r=.47, p<.001). Meanwhile, emotional intelligence and social support had a partial mediating effect in the relationships between emotional regulation efforts in profession and job satisfaction. Conclusion : Based on these findings, customized program for improving emotional regulation efforts in profession, emotional intelligence and social support are needed to enhance the job satisfaction in tertiary hospital nurses.