A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Iranian version of Bradberry’s emotional intelligence questionnaire [10] on 370 nursing managers of educational hospitals of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran during February to May in 2016. Data were collected by a 41-question questionnaire consisting of two parts of demographic characteristics and emotional intelligence items. The part of demographic characteristics included 13 questions about age, gender, marital status, number of children, educational level, indigenous work experience, managerial work experience, income, employment type, job-related complications, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction.

The part of emotional intelligence consist of a 28-question questionnaire that measured emotional intelligence in four dimensions; 1-self-awareness (6 questions), 2-self-management (9 questions), 3-social awareness (5 questions) and 4-relationship management (8 questions). The questionnaire scale was included in "never=1", "rarely=2", "sometimes=3", "usually=4", "almost always=5" and "always=6". Total score and dimensions scores of emotional intelligence questionnaire were calculated to 100 for the simplicity of the comparison and interpreted in high ability level (90-100), good ability level (80-89), average ability level (70-79) with need to strengthen, weak level (60-69), very weak (less than 59) or alert status.

Emotional intelligence questionnaire has been reviewed and approved by converge correlation coefficient with emotional intelligence test equals to r=0.67 and p<0.01 and Cronbach’s alpha 0.83 validity and reliability [21]. In this study, reliability of the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire was assessed by test-retest (r=0.87).

This study was approved by the research council of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (No. P/16/35/9/5417 dated Jan. 24, 2015). Purposes of the study, the confidentiality and being anonymous of the questionnaire and voluntary participation of the company in the research was explained to nurse managers. Willingness to complete the questionnaire constitutes informed consent to participate in the research. Inclusion criteria were having at least one year work experience, willingness to participation and completing the questionnaire. Incomplete questionnaires were excluded.

The questionnaires were presented for all nurse managers at any centre including matrons, supervisors, head nurses, and the people in charge of morning, afternoon and night working shifts in each ward and collected after a maximum of one week. In this research, based on a similar study, the average co-relation co-efficient between emotional intelligence and leadership styles is equal to 0.7 and in this research, the coefficient calculated was minimum 0.6 [22]. Therefore, in the Type I error p=0.05 and the ability to test of 1-p=0.9, at least 349 of these nurse managers are required. Taking into account the 15% loss, there were 400 subjects of research samples.

Out of 400 questionnaires distributed among 370 nursing managers, finally 370 questionnaires were completed and studied. Data were analysed by SPSS Version 16 software and using descriptive and inferential statistics (mean, standard deviation, Pearson co-relation co-efficient, T-test) and significant lower levels of 0.05.

Out of the 400 questionnaires provided to nurse managers, 370 questionnaires were completed and received (response rate of 92.5%). The mean age was 41±5.1-year-old considering 291 (78.6%) women and 79 (21.4%) male. Total 305 (82.4%) Nurse Managers were married and 180 (48.7%) had two or more children. Most of the nurse managers 329 (88.9%) were bachelor’s degree and the rest master’s degree. Majority 313 (84.6%) of Nurse managers were native, had work experience between 10-19 years 260 (70.3%) and 210 (56.7%) have also experience of management between 10-19 years. Most of Nurse Managers were head nurse or charge nurse 327 (88.4%) and the rest 43 (11.6%) matron or supervisor. The mean of income level of Nurse Managers was 10.59±0.25 million Rials and most of them 287 (77.6%) had between 15-20 million Rials income. Most 279 (75.4%) of them were employed on contract basis and the rest were on tenure. Most 296 (80%) of Nurse Managers had moderate job satisfaction and also moderate life satisfaction 302 (81.6%). 333(90%) of Nurse Managers had not passed any educational courses related to emotional intelligence [Table/Fig-1].

In general, emotional intelligence scores of nurse managers was assessed excellent 22 (5.9%), good 194 (52.4%), moderate 134 (36.2%), weak 19 (5.1%) and very weak 1 (0.3%). Nurse Managers’ emotional intelligence mean score was also 80.46±6.7 which was interpreted at good ability level.

Nurse managers’ emotional intelligence score at the dimension of self-awareness was assessed excellent 81 (21.9%), good 138 (37.3%), moderate 103 (27.8%), weak 15 (4.1%) and very weak 33 (8.9%) ability levels. Nurse Managers’ emotional intelligence mean score at the dimension of self-awareness was also 79.71±12.55 which is interpreted at moderate ability level.

Nurse managers’ emotional intelligence score at the dimension of self-management was assessed excellent 135 (36.5%), good 112 (30.3%), moderate 76 (20.5%), weak 12 (3.2%) and very weak 35 (9.5%) ability levels. Nurse Managers’ emotional intelligence mean score at the dimension of self-management was also 80.87±15.14 which is interpreted at good ability level.

Nurse managers’ emotional intelligence score at the dimension of social awareness was assessed excellent 125 (33.8%), good 80 (21.6%), moderate 114 (30.8%), weak 37 (10%) and very weak 14 (3.8%) ability levels. Nurse Managers’ emotional intelligence mean score at the dimension of social awareness was also 80.67±12 which is interpreted at good ability level.

Nurse managers’ emotional intelligence score at the dimension of social skills was assessed excellent 132 (35.7%), good 94 (25.4%), moderate 94 (25.4%), weak 24 (6.5%) and very weak 26 (7%) ability levels. Nurse Managers’ emotional intelligence mean score at the dimension of social skills was also 80.59±14.3 which is interpreted at good ability level [Table/Fig-2].

In general, mean score of nurse managers’ emotional intelligence had no significant correlation with demographic variables such as education level, native, income, work place, job satisfaction. In contrast, there were significant correlation for some of the demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, number of children, work experience, managerial work experience, employment type and life satisfaction (p=0.04). However, nurse managers’ emotional intelligence increased by increasing age, number of children, work experience and managerial work experience.

In the aspect of self-awareness of emotional intelligence, mean scores of nurse managers had no correlation with demographic variables except marital status and gender (p=0.001).

In the aspect of self-management of emotional intelligence, mean scores of nurse managers had no correlation with demographic variables except for gender, age, marital status, work experience, job satisfaction and number of children (p=0.04), which means mean score of self-management aspect was more in female, single, with children and older nurse managers.

In the aspect of social awareness of emotional intelligence, mean scores of nurse managers had no correlation with demographic variables except for age, marital status, number of children, work experience and managerial work experience (p=0.001) which means mean score of social awareness was more by increasing age, number of children, work experience and managerial work experience and single nurse managers.

In the aspect of social skills of emotional intelligence, mean scores of nurse managers had no correlation with demographic variables except for gender, age, marital status, number of children, work experience and employment type (p=0.04) which means, the mean score of social skills was more at female, older, number of children, single and more work experience [Table/Fig-3].

The mean of nurse managers’ age was 41±5.1, which is in agreement with some of the studies [19,22] in the last two decades of nursing, education has been developed in developing countries and increased hiring of new graduates of these programs. The majority of nurse managers (291, 78.6%) were women, which is consistent with the results of Tyczkowski B et al., study [20]. Nursing still is considered to be a feminine job in the developing countries. According to the majority of women in nursing profession, women are more present in different management levels. Most (82.4%) nurse managers were married that is in line with another study [18] probably because they have more work experiences, income and age. Most (88.9%) of nurse managers held bachelor’s degree in nursing that is consistent with some studies [22] in developing countries like Iran. Nursing education and profession still is new especially in postgraduate education. Moreover, most of graduates in nursing master and PhD have employed in higher education institutions due to the expansion of nursing education in recent years. Most of nurse managers had work experience more than 10 years that is in line with similar studies [18]. Moreover, nursing management in educational hospitals has increased considering work experience and other merits as a meritocracy criteria for nurse manager selection as well.

In this research, emotional intelligence of nursing managers was in good ability level, which is consistent with the results of Tyczkowski B et al., study on nurse managers working in six large Midwestern health systems [20]. Good emotional intelligence buffers stress, reduces anxiety, promotes effective communication and improves performance [23,24] which could be essential for managment and job success.

In this study, emotional intelligence in women was more than men that is consistent with results of Jorfi H et al., [22]. However, Yoke LB et al., found no significant differences among emotional intelligence levels and male and female’s nurse managers [21]. Mankus AM et al., also believes women reported greater voluntary and involuntary attention to emotion than men [25]. Moreover, Landa JMA et al., in their study on nurses did not find any significant difference between emotional intelligence with gender and marital status that is in line with our results [26]. Higher emotional intelligence in women could be due to the ability to express emotions and empathy and interpersonal relationships in women rather to men.

Our results showed that emotional intelligence will be promoted with increasing age that is in line with some studies [22]. Age could be an effective factor during life to gain more self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social skills in most people. Our results also showed a significant difference between emotional intelligence and work experience of nurse managers that is in line with results of Van Dusseldorp LR et al., [27] and Yoke LB et al., study on teachers [21]. Increasing emotional intelligence could be resulted from the increasing age and experience.

Our results showed that married nurse managers had higher emotional intelligence that is in line with the results of Gharahhajlou JE et al., study on high school English teachers [28]. The higher emotional intelligence of married people may be due to sensory justifications. Our results found no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and income levels that is in line with results of Mankus AM et al., study on emotional intelligence and socioeconomic status [25].

Our results did not found any relationship between emotional intelligence and education level that is not in line with findings of Kumar JA et al., study on polytechnic lecturers in Malaysia and Besnson G et al., study results on bachelor’s nursing student [29,30]. Indeed, education level could not increase emotional intelligence lonely. Another finding of this study was life and job satisfaction among nurse managers with higher emotional intelligence that is in line with results of Güleryüz G et al., study on the job satisfaction and emotional intelligence of nurses [31]. Emotional capabilities make appropriate responses facing with the everyday events with positive attitude and emotion to the events resulting in satisfaction with physical and mental health. Moreover, Landa JMA et al., also found that emotional intelligence could be a support element in nurses’ stress and increase job and life satisfaction [26]. Consequently, the people with high emotional intelligence are often organised, friendly, successful, motivated and optimistic.

Generalisation of the results is restricted by limited number of nurse managers and only one province of Iran. It is suggested that further research should be conducted to study nationwide or in a larger population.

Nurse Managers had good ability level in emotional intelligence in general. They had also good ability level in aspects of self-management, social awareness and social skills. However, nurse managers had moderate ability level in aspect of self-awareness of emotional intelligence. Consequently, management boards should work on all aspects of emotional management and consider demographic characteristics for selection of nurse managers.

Ali Bikmoradi contributed to the conception and design of the study, conducted the survey, analysed and interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. Fatemeh Abdi, Yadollah Hamidi and Naser Farahmand Moqadam contributed to the design of the study. Alireza Sullana contributed to the interpretation of results and drafted the manuscript. All authors contributed to the critical revision of the manuscript and approved the final version for publication.

The authors declare the adherence to all ethical consideration during research, data analysis and preparation of manuscript as well. This article was a part of master’s thesis in medical surgical nursing, approved by Research and Ethical Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences with "P/16/35/9/5417 dated 30.06.2015".