The Direct and Interactive Impact of Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control on Private Sector Employees' Perceived Stres

The following work sought to better understand whether or not locus of control moderates the relationship between emotional intelligence and perceived stress level. With this in mind, the purpose of the current study was to quantitatively investigate this potential for interaction. The research accomplished answering these questions by utilizing a quantitative survey methodology. Amazons Mechanical Turk was utilized to collect data from 126 adults aged 18-65 employed within the private sector in the U.S. The data collected was comprised of answers to questions from the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form, Rotter's I-E measurement and the Perceived Stress Scale. The data found that emotional intelligence was a significant predictor of perceived stress (r = -.733, p < 0.001), locus of control was not a significant predictor of perceived stress (r = .027, p = 0.765) and finally, the interaction variable of locus of control * emotional intelligence was not a significant predictor of perceived stress (t = -.037, p = 0.970). The research supports the assertion by others that emotional intelligence is a strong predictor of perceived stress and that locus of control does not play a moderating role in the emotional intelligence-stress interaction. It offers implications for future learning and development interventions in the scholarly and private sector within the United Stated to better inform individuals regarding the impact of emotional intelligence on stress perception.