TITLE:
Analyzing the Mediating Role of Work Engagement and Organizational Justice in the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Job Satisfaction among Employees in Kenya
AUTHORS:
Kilach Judith, Rachmawati Riani
KEYWORDS:
Emotional Intelligence, Work Engagement, Organizational Justice, Job Satisfaction
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.12 No.4,
July
17,
2024
ABSTRACT: This study aims to analyze the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and job satisfaction (JS), with a focus on the mediating roles of work engagement (WE) and organizational justice (OJ) among employees in Kenya. It addresses the gap in research on how EI influences JS within the Kenyan context. The primary objective is to analyze how EI impacts job satisfaction and the mediating effects of WE and OJ. The research is guided by the Affective Events Theory (AET), which suggests that individuals’ emotional responses to events at work shape their attitudes and behaviors. EI, a critical component of social intelligence involving the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions, is examined for its indirect effects on job satisfaction. The study adopts a quantitative research design, utilizing questionnaires to gather data from 237 respondents. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with Smart-PLS is used for data analysis. The results reveal that EI does not directly influence job satisfaction in Kenya but does so indirectly through work engagement and organizational justice. Specifically, EI enhances both work engagement and the perception of organizational justice, which in turn positively affects job satisfaction. This finding underscores the importance of EI in fostering a supportive work environment that promotes engagement and fairness, leading to higher job satisfaction. This study contributes to the literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the interplay between EI, WE, OJ, and JS among Kenyan employees. It highlights the need for managerial strategies that leverage EI to create a more engaged and just workplace, ultimately improving job satisfaction.