The Effect of Emotional Intelligence Training on Work–Family Conflict in Intensive Care Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction

Work–family conflict (WFC) is a prevalent stressor for nurses, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs) due to demanding workloads. Emotional intelligence (EI) training has been demonstrated to enhance conflict resolution abilities.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of EI training on WFC among ICU nurses.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial with a pretest and posttest design was conducted with 74 nurses from two Iranian hospitals. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, and the Carlson WFC Scales. They were then randomly assigned to a training group ( n = 36) and a control group ( n = 38). The training group received eight 60-min face-to-face EI training sessions twice a week, while the control group received no intervention. Posttest assessments were conducted four weeks later. Data analysis was performed using paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and one-way analysis of covariance in SPSS version 27.

Results

Emotional intelligence training significantly reduced overall WFC and its subscales (strain-based and behavior-based), indicating improved EI outcomes due to training in ICU nurses ( p < .016). While time-based conflict did not show a significant reduction, improvements were observed within the training group.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that EI training is effective in mitigating WFC and enhancing EI among ICU nurses. Specifically, this training demonstrated significant reductions in behavior-based and strain-based WFC. This approach has the potential to improve both the professional and personal lives of nurses, ultimately contributing to a more fulfilling and sustainable nursing workforce.