Emotional intelligence, resilience and happiness among police offices in the Sedibeng west district

Abstract

Law enforcement departments require staff members that are psychologically stable when facing stressful, unpleasant and undesirable situations during work activities. The literature indicates that law enforcers are exposed to dangerous and unpredictable situations; hence, emotional intelligence, resilience and happiness are important to them. Although the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), resilience and happiness are considered essential, previous research based on these constructs within the law enforcement departments is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between EI, resilience and happiness among police officers in the Sedibeng West District in the Gauteng province, South Africa. The study followed a quantitative research approach and a probability sampling method to achieve its empirical objectives. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 400 police officers within the Sedibeng West District. 330 responses were received, which resulted in a response rate of 82.5 percent for the main study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data to determine the levels of EI, resilience and happiness among police officers and the results were positive. Correlation analysis was undertaken to investigate the existence of an association between the constructs. The results indicated a weak positive association between the self-emotion appraisal (SEA) dimension of EI and resilience recovery, and a positive association between the SEA dimension and resilience control. A weak positive association between the use of emotion (UOE) dimension of EI and resilience recovery was revealed and a positive association between UOE and resilience control as well. A significant weak positive association was indicated for the EI dimension other’s emotion appraisal (OEA) and resilience recovery, and a positive association between OEA and resilience control was also revealed. A significant weak positive association between the regulation of emotion (ROE) dimension of EI and resilience recovery, and a moderate positive association between ROE and resilience control was reported. Lastly, a moderate positive association between resilience recovery and happiness was reported and a positive, however, weak association between resilience control and happiness was reported. Regression analysis was undertaken to determine the predictive relationships between the constructs. The results showed no predictive relationship between SEA and resilience recovery and resilience control; between OEA and resilience recovery and resilience control; and between UOE and resilience recovery and resilience control. A significant predictive relationship between ROE and resilience recovery and resilience control was revealed. Lastly, a predictive relationship existed between both resilience dimensions (resilience recovery and resilience control) and happiness. The study recommends that law enforcement departments should develop police officers’ EI, resilience and happiness by promoting subjective well-being (SWB) programs. Programs focusing on EI may be implemented to enhance knowledge on how to regulate and manage emotions. Mental health clinics and debriefing sessions should be held to provide police officers with moral support. Finally, an action-oriented approach to assist police officers with their coping strategies and behavioural treatment is also recommended. The study also recommends that the involvement of Human Resources Development (HRD) within police departments should serve to support the wellness and development of police officers.