Interpersonal conflict and psychological well-being at work: the beneficial effects of teleworking and emotional intelligence
International Journal of Conflict Management
ISSN: 1044-4068
Article publication date: 3 November 2023
Issue publication date: 17 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This cross-sectional study had several objectives. This paper aims to study the direct effect of teleworking on interpersonal conflict, the mediating role that interpersonal conflict can play between teleworking and psychological well-being, the moderating role emotional intelligence (EI) can play between teleworking and interpersonal conflict and whether this moderation effect can, in turn, be associated with psychological well-being (moderated mediation effect).
Design/methodology/approach
Path analyses using Mplus software were performed on a sample of 264 employees from 19 small- and medium-sized organizations.
Findings
While teleworking was associated with lower interpersonal conflict, it was not associated with enhanced psychological well-being. Interestingly, workload seemed to be associated with higher interpersonal conflict, while decision authority and support garnered from one’s supervisor seemed to be associated with lower interpersonal conflict. Teleworking was indirectly associated with higher psychological well-being via interpersonal conflict. Finally, EI played a moderating role between teleworking and lower interpersonal conflict. This was, in turn, associated with higher psychological well-being.
Practical implications
EI is an essential skill to develop in the workplace.
Originality/value
A deepened understanding of the role played by EI at work could help organizations to provide positive work environments, both in person and online. This is especially relevant today, with the continued increase in teleworking practices and the resulting rapidly changing interpersonal relationships.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thanks all the organizations and employees who participated in this study. The authors would also like to thank Kim Simard, a doctoral student at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, for her invaluable assistance during data collection. The authors would also like to thank Ève-Marie Lortie, an undergraduate student at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, for her assistance in conducting a literature review.
This research was funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council [grant number 430-2020-0674]; Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Société et culture [grant number 267581]; as well as the UQTR Junior Research Chair on HRM practices, Well-being, and Performance at Work.
Citation
Parent-Lamarche, A. and Saade, S. (2024), "Interpersonal conflict and psychological well-being at work: the beneficial effects of teleworking and emotional intelligence", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 547-566. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCMA-06-2023-0117
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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