The Moderating Effect of Age on Preschool Teachers Trait Emotional Intelligence in Greece and Implications for Preschool Human Resources Management

Abstract

Preschool teachers play a significant role in nurturing the social and emotional development of young children. Moreover, their own social and emotional skills can influence how they instruct their pupils in emotional intelligence (EI). This study aimed to examine the individual dimensions of trait emotional intelligence (TEI) for preschool teachers working in Ioannina, the capital city of Epirus in northwestern Greece, using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form (TEIQue–SF). The mean EI score of the participants was 4.98(±0.57), with a small number having EI scores either below 4 (1.61%) or above 6 (1.76%), while the majority had a mean EI score between 4–5 (49.18%) and 5–6 (47.54%). Although no effect of age or experience on overall EI was found, age was negatively correlated with emotionality on the one hand and positively with sociability on the other. This trend toward a moderate increase in sociability as teachers grow older may reflect their different backgrounds and experiences. Educational administrators should direct resources toward safeguarding and enhancing the preschool teachers’ EI at all stages of their careers.