THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF WORK ENGAGEMENT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND POLICE OFFICERS' WORK PERFORMANCE IN THE UAE.

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the correlation between emotional intelligence (EI), work engagement (WE), and work performance (WP) of police officers in a developing country such as the UAE. The literature review showed that there is still ambiguity about the personal resources and abilities that may mediate the EI-WP relationship. Thereby, this study also examines the mediating effect of WE on the EI-WP relationship among the UAE's police officers. The theoretical framework is established based on extant literature to accomplish these objectives, utilizing the Conservation of Resources (COR) and Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) as foundational theories. To fulfill the study objectives, a quantitative cross-sectional survey method was employed. Questionnaires were distributed to 300 front-line police officers in the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) selected through simple random sampling, yielding 253 usable responses. The collected data were analyzed using PLS-SEM to assess the study's hypotheses. The results indicate a significant and positive influence of EI and WE on police officers' WP. Furthermore, EI ability was found to positively and significantly impact police officers’ WE. Crucially, the findings reveal that WE partially mediates the EI-WP correlation. These findings contribute to the literature by highlighting the relevance of EI and WE as personal resources and abilities, in enhancing police officers' WP. Understanding these components enables police institutions' decision-makers to optimize police officers' work engagement to enhance their work performance.