The effect of emotional dissonance and emotional intelligence on work-family interference

In this study, we examined the relationship between emotional dissonance and work-to-family inference (WFI) and whether emotional intelligence moderated the association between emotional dissonance and WFI. Data were collected at two time points. At Time 1 (T1), we measured emotional dissonance, demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, marital status, number of children), negative affectivity, emotional intelligence, and WFI (T1). At Time 2 (T2), WFI was measured again. A total of 155 valid questionnaires were collected at two time points. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that emotional dissonance at T1 was a salient predictor of WFI at Time 2, even when WFI at Time 1 and other variables were controlled. One subdimension of emotional intelligence-namely regulation of emotion-was also significantly related to WFI at T2. However, emotional intelligence did not moderate the association between emotional dissonance and WFI.