The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Relationship Between Employee Resilience, Perceived Organizational Support, and Work Engagement: A Multi-Sector Study in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Employee engagement plays a crucial role in organizational success, influencing productivity, retention, and overall workplace performance. This study examines the impact of employee resilience and perceived organizational support (POS) on work engagement, with emotional intelligence (EI) as a moderating factor, across multiple sectors in Saudi Arabia. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, the study hypothesizes that resilience and POS positively influence engagement, while EI moderates these relationships by enhancing employees’ ability to leverage resilience and support effectively. A quantitative research approach was employed, using a structured survey distributed to 450 full-time employees across industries such as healthcare, education, finance, manufacturing, and IT. Data were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the relationships among the variables. The findings confirm that employee resilience and POS significantly enhance work engagement, supporting the direct effects. Additionally, EI moderates these relationships, indicating that employees with higher emotional intelligence are better equipped to utilize resilience and organizational support to sustain engagement. These findings contribute to Saudi Vision 2030, emphasizing workforce development and employee well-being. The study provides practical insights for HR professionals on fostering engagement through resilience training, supportive workplace policies, and emotional intelligence development programs.