Exploring the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Coping Strategies :focused on Employees in the Hospitality Industry

Using canonical correlation analysis, the study attempted to identify the correlation between emotional intelligence and coping strategies for employees in the hospitality industry. Respondents were employees in six five-star hotels in Seoul during a two-week period from June 28 to July 9, 2010. The results indicated that canonical correlations exist between emotional intelligence and coping strategies. All the sub-scales of EI (self-emotion appraisal, others’ emotional appraisal,use of emotion and regulation of emotion) are highly correlated with only the task-oriented strategy among the three coping strategies. The greater the reliance on a task-oriented coping guide to positive and desirable outcomes at work, the more the management of the hospitality industry should offer systematic support to enhance the level of EI. The managerial implications of these results for EI together with coping strategies are examined.