Journal of North Khorasan

Background and Objectives: Emotional Intelligence theory predicts a new vision about the factors that influence success in the prevention of mental and physical disorders. Given that  Emotional Intelligence enhances individual's ability to successfully encounter environmental pressures especially occupational burnout therefore the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and occupational burnout among nurses in Bojnurd teaching hospitals 2013.

Material & Methods: The present research is a type of correlation studies, which was performed cross-sectionally and with stratified random sampling method on 110 nurses . For data collection, Maslach's Burnout and Bar-on emotional intelligence questionnaires were used. Data were collected through Likert scale method, was analyzed by SPSS 20.

Results: There was a significant and inverse relationship between emotional intelligence and emotional exhaustion (p=0.001 and r=&minus0.11) and also depersonalization (p=0.001 and r=&minus0.11). No meaningful relationship was observed between emotional intelligence and personal accomplishment (p=0.31 and r=&minus0.12). Furthermore, in terms of emotional intelligence between males and females (p=0.024), and in different age groups (p=0.009), shown a significant difference.

Conclusion: According to remarkable difference between Emotional Intelligence and occupational burnout  and also based on Emotional Intelligence’s predictive model in occupational burnout prevention, can be attempt holding concurrent duty training courses about Emotional Intelligence in nurse’s teaching hospitals.

Key words: Emotional Intelligence, Occupational Burnout, Nurses