The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among
early childhood teachers’ emotional intelligence, professional identity,
emotional labor, and occupational well-being, and to verify the
mediating effect of professional identity and t...
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among
early childhood teachers’ emotional intelligence, professional identity,
emotional labor, and occupational well-being, and to verify the
mediating effect of professional identity and the moderating effect of
emotional labor in the relationship between emotional intelligence and
occupational well-being.
In this study, emotional intelligence was set as the independent
variable, professional identity as the mediating variable, emotional
labor as the moderating variable, and occupational well-being as the
dependent variable. Data were collected from 1,018 early childhood
teachers in five cities of Jiangsu Province, China, using
self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including
descriptive statistics, difference analysis, correlation analysis, and
multiple regression analysis, were performed using SPSS 24.0, while
confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM)
were conducted using AMOS 24.0.
The main findings of this study are as follows.
First, the levels of emotional intelligence, professional identity,
emotional labor, and occupational well-being among early childhood
teachers were all above the moderate level.
Second, significant differences in occupational well-being were found
according to demographic variables. Teachers of higher age and with
longer teaching experience showed higher levels of occupational
well-being, particularly those aged 46 and above and with more than
10 years of experience, who exhibited higher levels of psychological
and emotional well-being as well as overall well-being. Teachers in
supervisory or administrative positions reported the highest
well-being, and those working fewer than 6 hours or more than 10
hours per day showed higher well-being than those working 6–8
hours. Teachers with higher monthly income also demonstrated higher
occupational well-being, suggesting that economic stability contributes
positively to teachers’ happiness. Moreover, rural teachers reported
higher occupational well-being than urban teachers, and teachers in
private kindergartens showed higher well-being than those in public
kindergartens.
Third, the relationships and effects among emotional intelligence,
professional identity, emotional labor, and occupational well-being
were examined. The results revealed that emotional intelligence had a
positive effect on both professional identity and occupational
well-being. Teachers with higher emotional intelligence were better at
recognizing and regulating their emotions, developed positive attitudes
and values toward their profession, and experienced greater pride and
a stronger sense of belonging. Professional identity functioned as a
mediating factor, helping teachers derive greater satisfaction and
happiness from their educational activities. Emotional labor also
played an important role in the relationship between emotional
intelligence and occupational well-being. Among its sub-factors, deep
acting and natural expression had positive effects, indicating that
genuine emotional expression strengthened the positive link between
emotional intelligence and occupational well-being. In contrast, surface
acting showed a negative effect, suggesting that suppressing or
artificially
displaying emotions decreased teachers’ well-being.
Emotional intelligence thus affected occupational well-being both
directly and indirectly through professional identity, and the types of
emotional labor moderated this influence.
Fourth, professional identity showed a partial mediating effect in
the relationship between emotional intelligence and occupational
well-being. Teachers with higher emotional intelligence were able to
accurately perceive and regulate their emotions and respond stably to
various situations in the educational context. These characteristics led
them to perceive their profession more positively and to recognize the
deeper value and meaning of their teaching. As professional identity
increased, teachers felt greater responsibility and satisfaction with
their roles, which in turn enhanced occupational well-being. Emotional
intelligence served as an essential emotional resource that strengthened
professional identity and promoted occupational well-being.
Fifth, emotional labor played a moderating role in the relationship
between emotional intelligence and occupational well-being. The
positive effect of emotional intelligence on well-being varied
depending on the type of emotional labor. Deep acting and natural
expression strengthened this positive relationship, indicating that
authentic emotional engagement with children enhanced teachers’
sense of professional meaning and psychological satisfaction.
Conversely, surface acting weakened this relationship, as the
suppression or artificial expression of emotions accumulated emotional
exhaustion and reduced happiness. The way emotional labor was
performed determined whether teachers’ emotional resources were
depleted or enriched; authentic emotional expression helped maintain
emotional balance and enhance occupational well-being.
In conclusion, emotional intelligence was identified as a key factor
influencing occupational well-being among early childhood teachers.
Teachers with higher emotional intelligence developed stronger
professional identity, positive perceptions, and greater satisfaction with
their work, leading to higher occupational well-being. The effects
varied depending on the types of emotional labor: deep acting and
natural expression strengthened the positive influence of emotional
intelligence, whereas surface acting weakened it. These results
highlight the need to create an environment that fosters teachers’
emotional competence and supports authentic emotional expression as
a means to promote their occupational well-being.