Relationship between emotional intelligence, patients' positive reactions toward nurses, and work engagement among...

Mental health nurses face numerous work-related stressors that can hinder job performance. Work engagement is critical for enhancing performance. Although emotional intelligence might influence work engagement, the mediating role of patients' positive reactions toward nurses-as perceived by mental health nurses-has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to examine the relationships among emotional intelligence, patients' positive reactions toward nurses, and work engagement in mental health nurses.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 547 mental health nurses from 32 hospitals in Japan. Data on demographics, emotional intelligence, patients' positive reactions toward nurses, and work engagement were collected, followed by mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro.

Emotional intelligence was positively associated with patients' positive reactions toward nurses (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). In turn, patients' positive reactions toward nurses were associated with higher work engagement (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). The analysis indicated a significant indirect effect of emotional intelligence on work engagement via patients' positive reactions toward nurses (indirect effect; 95% bootstrap confidence interval: 0.08; [0.05, 0.12]), suggesting that emotionally intelligent nurses perceive more positive reactions from patients, which, in turn, may contribute to their work engagement.

These findings suggest that emotional intelligence may help nurses foster positive and trusting relationships with patients, potentially supporting higher work engagement. The results highlight the importance of providing environments that cultivate emotional intelligence, strengthen interpersonal skills, and encourage the practical development of patient-nurse relationships to enhance well-being and sustained engagement in mental health settings.