The relationship between emotional intelligence and burnout among mental health nurses in Morocco

INTRODUCTION: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) levels and burnout in mental health nurses.
METHODS: The study sample comprised 112 nurses from three psychiatric hospitals in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima regional health authority. Data were collected using the Personal Information Questionnaire, the Wong and Law EI Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson’s correlation, and linear regression analysis.
RESULTS: The nurses’ mean EI score was 27.61±6.5, while the mean burnout score was 24.06±7.3. A significant negative relationship was observed between burnout and EI scores (r=−0.352; p<0.05). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed between demographic characteristics, including gender and marital status, and EI and burnout scores (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that three factors statistically significantly predicted burnout in nurses in the final regression model. These were gender (β=0.466, p<0.05) and marital status (β=0.386, p<0.05). However, total EI score was a significant negative predictor (β=−0.454, p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: EI has a strong influence on burnout. EI training programs should, therefore, be implemented to prevent and reduce the risk of burnout among mental health nurses.