Date
10-16-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Amy Stevens
Keywords
emotional intelligence, negative affect, work-family conflict, religious faith, adult online learners
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Priel, Alexander A., "The Impact of Religious Faith on the Relationships Between Negative Affect, Work-Family conflict, and Emotional Intelligence in Adult Online Learners" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7574.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7574
Abstract
Emotional intelligence has been well researched in traditional environments as a trait that positively influences employees and the culture of organizations of numerous industries This study served to fill a gap in the psychological literature in assessing adult online learners, a population that is both increasing in number and vastly understudied. The primary goal of this dissertation was to assess variables that impact emotional intelligence in a virtual environment. NA has been identified with an inverse relationship with EI, increasing counterproductive work behaviors, while WFC has been negatively associated with EI, potentially leading to stress and burnout for organizational employees. The impact of RF has been less studied in virtual realms, as this study will seek to fill this crucial gap. The quantitative, cross-sectional research design used multiple linear regression and moderation analysis to examine and measure the variables. A G*Power analysis determined that a minimum of 101 participants would be needed to complete the study. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit the necessary number of adult online learners. The survey was created and distributed through Qualtrics via email, social media, and the LUSBS. The survey contained five distinct measures including a demographic questionnaire and four psychological instruments: PANAS-SF (20 questions), NWFCS (10 questions), TEIQue-SF (30 questions), and the SCSRFQ-SF (5 questions). The results demonstrate that there was a moderate inverse correlation between NA and EI as well as between WFC and EI. NA and WFC predicted EI better than either variable did independently. However, RF did not moderate the relationships between NA, WFC, and EI. Organizations may utilize these findings to target initiatives and programs to reduce the NA and WFC employees experience, thereby increasing EI displays.
