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ABSTRACT:
The present study aims at investigating the role of trait emotional intelligence (EI) in predicting burnout and job (dis)satisfaction in lawyers. Ninety-two Greek lawyers, who were practicing law in the First Instance Court, were asked to fill in a package of questionnaires including the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Professional Motives Inventory, which measured the motivating factors according to Hertzberg's dual factor theory, and part of the Employee Satisfaction Inventory, which measured the dissatisfying factors in lawyers' jobs. Personal (age, gender, marital status) and occupational (years of experience, job status, hours of work per day) data were also collected. Results demonstrated that Greek lawyers reported moderate levels of burnout and job (dis)satisfaction. A series of multiple regression analyses showed that burnout dimensions were predicted by EI factors (emotion regulation and self- or others' emotions appraisal) as well as age, working hours and professional experience. In predicting the job satisfaction dimensions, others' emotions appraisal and emotion regulation, as well as job status, were significant. Overall, trait EI appeared as a significant factor protecting lawyers from burnout and job dissatisfaction and enhancing their job satisfaction.
Key words: burnout, emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, lawyers
INTRODUCTION
Literature regarding the legal profession shows that job demands of lawyers are major sources of stress which may often lead to work non-work interference [1]. As a result of their intense interactions with clients, burnout is very likely to arise in lawyers. Research in other professions indicate that an increased level of burnout is most likely to result, sooner or later, in job dissatisfaction [2-3]. Emotional intelligence (EI) appears to play a significant role in key organizational outcomes including stress and job satisfaction [4-5]. Empirical evidence suggests that certain components of EI influence or predict job satisfaction [6-8] and burnout dimensions [9-10]. Moreover, it is proposed that EI has a protective effect regarding occupational stress [11]. Although the relationship between EI, burnout and job satisfaction have been studied in several professions, no relevant research has been carried out in the legal profession. The present study aims at investigating the role of EI dimensions in predicting burnout and job satisfaction among Greek lawyers. In what follows, we will first review research concerning EI, burnout and job satisfaction...