The moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between workplace civility and job satisfaction: a multi-university behavioral study

Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-55705-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While workplace civility is a known determinant of job satisfaction, the internal psychological resources that modulate this relationship remain under-explored. This study examines the predictive power of emotional intelligence (EI) and its role as a moderator in the relationship between perceived workplace civility and job satisfaction among nurse educators. this study aimed to examine the associations between emotional intelligence (EI), workplace civility, and job satisfaction (JS) among nurse educators, specifically exploring how EI relates to the link between environmental and personal resources. A cross-sectional design was employed, surveying 257 nurse educators across multiple Saudi Arabian universities. Validated psychometric instruments were utilized to measure EI, civility, and job satisfaction, with data analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The moderating effect of emotional intelligence was analyzed using a two-stage interaction modeling approach to ensure robust estimation of the interaction term. Data were collected online via Google Forms from August 1 to September 30, 2025. Participants reported high levels of job satisfaction and moderate levels of workplace civility. Emotional Intelligence (EI) emerged as the strongest direct predictor of job satisfaction, while workplace civility also significantly and positively predicted satisfaction. Most importantly, EI was found to significantly moderate the relationship between civility and job satisfaction. The EI and workplace civility are critical, synergistic predictors of job satisfaction among nurse educators. To effectively maximize faculty retention and satisfaction, nursing administrators must implement a dual-focus strategy that simultaneously cultivates individual emotional competencies and enforces a consistent culture of workplace civility.

PMID:42230941 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-55705-4