Abstract
Midwives employed in obstetrics and gynecology (O&G) departments encounter emotionally intense and high-stress environments that necessitate both clinical expertise and emotional management. Emotional intelligence (EI), which is defined as the capacity to recognize, comprehend, regulate, and effectively utilize emotions, is increasingly acknowledged as a crucial element in improving healthcare performance, resilience, and patient outcomes. Although well-documented in broader healthcare literature, this relationship is underexplored among midwives in Palestine. This study provides needed context-specific evidence. To investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance among midwives in O&G departments in Palestine. A cross-sectional study was carried out from February 15 to April 15, 2025, involving 167 midwives from nine hospitals throughout Palestine. Data collection utilized three validated tools: a demographic questionnaire, the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, and the Employee Job Performance Scale. The participants exhibited high levels of both emotional intelligence (M = 151.8, SD = 1.8) and job performance (M = 4.3, SD = 0.4). A strong positive correlation was identified between EI and job performance (r = 0.533, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that EI was a significant predictor of job performance (β = 0.093, p < 0.01), while age and work experience also demonstrated positive correlations. Educational level and work shift were not significantly linked to job performance. The results highlight the essential role of emotional intelligence in improving the job performance of midwives in O&G departments. Incorporating EI development into midwifery education and professional training programs may enhance clinical outcomes, promote staff well-being, and contribute to maternal and neonatal health. Future studies should investigate longitudinal and qualitative methods to gain a deeper understanding of the application of EI in midwifery practice.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- EI:
-
Emotional Intelligence
- SPSS:
-
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
- SSEIT:
-
Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT)
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Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the midwives who participated in this study.
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I. F and F.E, designed and conducted the study. BE.H, A.A, performed the analysis and drafted the manuscript. A.A, I.F, R.A and M.A advised on the study design, facilitated data collection and revised the manuscript. F.E, BE.H, and I.F helped in data collection. A.B, A.A, I.F, and M.A interpretation of data and revised the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the manuscript.
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The study was reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee at Palestine Ahliya University (IRB: CAMS/BSN/15/2025), and administrative authorization for data collection was secured from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The study followed the ethical guidelines, protocol, and regulations stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.
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Eqtait, F., Ayed, A., Anabtawi, R. et al. The relationship between emotional intelligence and work performance among palestinians’ midwives in obstetrics and gynecology departments. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35463-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35463-z
