Emotional Intelligence as A Pathway to Job Satisfaction:‎Navigating Stress among College Teachers in Self-Financing ‎Institutions

  • Authors

    • Nufaila K Department of Commerce, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and ‎ Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu- 603203, India
    • Angayarkanni Department of Commerce, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and ‎ Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu- 603203, India
    • Saleena E. C. Department of Commerce, Ambedkar College of Arts and Science, Wandoor, Malappuram, Kerala- ‎‎679328, India
    • Jasiya Salim Department of B.Voc Professional Accounting and Taxation, EMEA College of Arts and Science, ‎Kondotty, Karipur, Kerala- 673638, India
    https://doi.org/10.14419/wqh94p26

    Received date: July 30, 2025

    Accepted date: October 14, 2025

    Published date: December 4, 2025

  • Job Stress; Job Satisfaction; Emotional Intelligence; Teachers; Kerala

  • Abstract

    Teaching in self-financing colleges frequently involves high levels of job stress due to ‎administrative duties, academic demands, and a lack of institutional support, all of which can ‎affect overall job satisfaction. This study investigates the relationship between job stress and ‎job satisfaction among self-financing college teachers in Kerala, with emotional intelligence ‎serving as a moderator. Standardized tools were used to survey a sample of 377 college teachers. ‎Data analysis was performed through Smart PLS to model the complex relationship between the ‎constructs. The findings indicated a substantial inverse correlation between job stress and job ‎satisfaction, supporting the literature that teachers who experience elevated levels of stress also ‎report reduced levels of satisfaction. Additionally, the relationship was significantly moderated ‎by emotional intelligence, indicating that people with higher emotional intelligence were better ‎able to sustain job satisfaction even in stressful situations. The study suggests that in order to ‎improve teacher performance, retention, and well-being in self-financing colleges, emotional ‎intelligence training can be included in professional development programs‎.

  • References

    1. Anari, Nahid Naderi. 2012. “Teachers: Emotional Intelligence, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment.” Journal of Workplace Learning 24 (4): 256–69. https://doi.org/10.1108/13665621211223379.
    2. Baron, Reuben M., and David A. Kenny. 1986. “The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic, and Statistical Considerations.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 51 (6): 1173–82. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084349.
    3. Carmeli, Abraham. 2003. “The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Work Attitudes, Behavior and Outcomes: An Examination among Senior Managers.” Journal of Managerial Psychology 18 (7–8): 788–813. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940310511881.
    4. Chakravorty, Arjun, and Pankaj Singh. 2020. “Work/Family Interference and Burnout among Primary School Teachers: The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence.” Decision 47 (3): 251–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40622-020-00249-3.
    5. Chin, Wynne W, Robert A Peterson, and Steven P Brown. 2008. “STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING IN MARKETING : SOME PRACTICAL REMINDERS.” Journal Marketing Theory and Practice 16 (4): 287–98. https://doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679160402.
    6. Dijkstra, Theo K., and Jörg Henseler. 2015. “CONSISTENT PARTIAL LEAST SQUARES PATH MODELING.” MIS Quarterly 39 (2): 297–316. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2015/39.2.02.
    7. Elrayah, Musaddag, Mohamed A. Moustafa, Elnagi M. Hamid, and Sheriff Y Ahmed. 2023. “How Does Job Autonomy Influence Teachers’ Turnover Intention? Testing the Mediating Effects of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction.” Journal of Law and Sustainable Development 11 (11): e1731. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i11.1731.
    8. Fornell, Claes, and David F Larcker. 1981. “Erratum: Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error: Algebra and Statistics.” Journal of Marketing Research 18 (4): 382–88. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151335.
    9. Hair, Joseph F., Christian M. Ringle, and Marko Sarstedt. 2012. “Partial Least Squares: The Better Approach to Structural Equation Modeling?” Long Range Planning 45 (5–6): 312–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2012.09.011.
    10. Hasna, Haya Sopia, Muallifah Muallifah, and Sefa Bulut. 2023. “The Role of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction on the Quality of Teacher Performance.” Journal of Indonesian Psychological Science (JIPS) 3 (1): 352–62. https://doi.org/10.18860/jips.v3i1.21030.
    11. Hidayatullah, Danang, Anis Eliyana, Hamidah, Tuty Sariwulan, and Agung Dharmawan Buchdadi. 2020. “Testing the Role of Competence and Supervision of Job Satisfaction and Its Impact on Teacher Performance.” Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy 11 (9): 668–75.
    12. Krén, Heléna, and Beatrix Séllei. 2021. “The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Organizational Performance.” Periodica Polytechnica Social and Management Sciences 29 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPso.15879.
    13. Kumar, Aiswarya V, and V P Velmurugan. 2021. “A Study on Stress Level of Self-Financing College Teachers in South Kerala During the Time of Pandemic Situation.” Ilkogretim Online-Elementary Education Online, Year 20 (5): 1753–65.
    14. Kyriacou, Chris. 2001. “Teacher Stress: Directions for Future Research.” Educational Review 53 (1): 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131910124115.
    15. Law, Kenneth S., Chi Sum Wong, and Lynda J. Song. 2004. “The Construct and Criterion Validity of Emotional Intelligence and Its Potential Utility for Management Studies.” Journal of Applied Psychology 89 (3): 483–96. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.3.483.
    16. Locke, Edwin A. 1976. “The Nature and Causes of Job Satisfaction.” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 110–25.
    17. Malik, Azam. 2025. “Impact of Job Stress, Work Engagement, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment on Job Burnout: A Study of Academicians in Private Universities.” International Review of Management and Marketing 15 (5): 81–89. https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.18452.
    18. Montano, María de las Nieves veloz, María de la Caridad González Martínez, and Leonardo Pérez Lemus. 2023. “Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Impact of Job Stress on Teachers’ Lives.” Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation 3: 57. https://doi.org/10.56294/ri202357.
    19. Mylonakis, John, Vassilis Orfanos, and Michalis Evripiotis. 2024. “Emotional Intelligence and Job Satisfaction in The Workplace Among Greek Employees.” International Journal of Business & Management Studies 5 (9): 20–27. https://doi.org/10.56734/ijbms.v5n9a3.
    20. Navabinejad, S, M Rostami, and K Parsakia. 2023. “The Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Relationship between Marital Conflicts and Tendency to Marital Infidelity in Couples,” no. March: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jarac.5.1.1.
    21. Salovey, P, and J. D Mayer. 1990. “Emotional Intelligence.” Imagination, Cognition, and Personality 9: 185–211. https://www.unhcr.org/publications/manuals/4d9352319/unhcr-protection-training-manual-european-border-entry-officials-2-legal.html?query=excom 1989. https://doi.org/10.2190/DUGG-P24E-52WK-6CDG.
    22. Sari, Desi Permata, M. Havidz Aima, and Elfiswandi. 2025. “Finding Out How Job Satisfaction Affects Teacher Performance Through Emotional Intelligence and Competence.” TEC Empresarial 20 (2): 594–608. https://revistas.tec.ac.cr/index.php/tec_empresarial/article/view/859.
    23. Schlaegel, Christopher, Robert L. Engle, and Guido Lang. 2022. “The Unique and Common Effects of Emotional Intelligence Dimensions on Job Satisfaction and Facets of Job Performance: An Exploratory Study in Three Countries.” International Journal of Human Resource Management 33 (8): 1562–1605. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1811368.
    24. Shen, Heng Joe, Ramli Basri, and Soaib Asimiran. 2018. “Relationship between Job Stress and Job Satisfaction among Teachers in Private and International School in Malaysia.” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 8 (12): 275–86. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i12/5012.
    25. Shivendra, Dubey, and Mishra Mukesh Kumar. 2016. “A Study of Job Satisfaction and Job Stress Among Physical Education Teachers Working in Government, Semi-Government and Private Schools.” International Journal of Sports Sciences & Fitness 6 (1): 89–99. http://spot.lib.auburn.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sph&AN=114041012&site=ehost-live.
    26. Silva, A, J Marzo, and J A García. 2024. “Relationship between Quality of Life , Emotional Symptomology and Perceived Emotional Intelligence in a Sample of Burn Victims.” Burns, no. xxxx: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2024.02.034.
    27. Skaalvik, Einar M., and Sidsel Skaalvik. 2017. “Dimensions of Teacher Burnout: Relations with Potential Stressors at School.” Social Psychology of Education 20 (4): 775–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-017-9391-0.
    28. Subashini, R, G Velmurugan, and Lu Wang. 2022. “EVALUATION OF THE STATUS, JOB SATISFACTION AND OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AMONG FACULTY MEMBERS OF SELF FINANCING COLLEGES.” World Journal of Management and Economics 15 (4): 130–44.
    29. Widyanarko, Rudy, Ngurah Ayu, Nyoman Murniati, and Dyah Nugrahani. 2025. “Effective Leadership , Work Environment and Work Culture as Main Factors of Job Satisfaction among Elementary School Teachers A . Introduction The Quality of Education Remains a Central Concern in Global and National Education.” Edunesia : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan 6 (3): 1618–33.
    30. Yousaf, Muhammad, Maria Zulfaqar, Hina Shahab, and Hira Asif. 2023. “The Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Relationship Between Emotional Labor and Job Satisfaction in the Telecom Industry of Pakistan.” International Journal of Management Thinking 1 (2): 62–83. https://doi.org/10.56868/ijmt.v1i2.24.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    K, N., Angayarkanni, C., S. E. ., & Salim, J. . (2025). Emotional Intelligence as A Pathway to Job Satisfaction:‎Navigating Stress among College Teachers in Self-Financing ‎Institutions. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(8), 81-86. https://doi.org/10.14419/wqh94p26