The mediating effect of university teaching staff’s psychological well-being between emotional intelligence and burnout

Abstract

The work carried out by university teachers has evolved in response to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), requiring that teachers update their professional skills. This requirement and a lack of personal resources to manage it may cause burnout. However, certain personality traits protect teachers from burnout, e.g., emotional intelligence (EI) or psychological well-being (PWB). A sample of university teachers was assembled and the mediating effect of PWB between EI and burnout was analysed in both of its aspects (negative and professional efficacy). The results confirmed the sequential relationship between the dimensions of EI. Emotional regulation has no influence on any of the dimensions of burnout, but it does have an effect on PWB. Additionally, PWB has a direct, negative effect on the negative dimension of burnout and a positive effect on professional efficacy. PWB has a total mediating effect between emotional regulation and the different dimensions of burnout.