Emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: An empirical study on Italian nurses

The aim of this study was to take a more in-depth look at the role of emotional intelligence (both self-reported and ability-based) and personality traits in life satisfaction, verifying the existence of incremental validity of the emotional intelligence dimensions over personality variables. Three hundred and twenty-six Italian nurses were given the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ), the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (Bar-On EQ-i) and the Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The results highlight the influence exercised by personality and emotional intelligence on life satisfaction, underlining the role of emotional intelligence.