Abstract

The study examined the joint and relative influence of three psychosocial factors: Emotional intelligence, communication skill and interpersonal skill on conflict-handling behaviour of oil workers in Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted and a sample of 610 workers was randomly selected from oil companies across the country. Data were collected using emotional intelligence scale (r=0.78), communication skill scale (r=0.76), interpersonal skill scale (r=0.86) and conflict handling behaviour inventory (r=0.79). Three research questions were answered using multiple regression and correlation matrix. The three independent variables jointly predicted the conflict-handling behaviour of the respondents (R=0.464). Specifically, the predictors contributed 21.1% (adjusted R2=0.121) to the variance of the dependent measure. This contribution is shown to be significant (F (3,606) =55.448; P<0.05). Also, each of the independent variables significantly (p<0.05) predicted the dependent variable, with communication skill having the greatest relative contribution (B=0.179; t=8.529; p<0.05). Similarly, the result of the correlation matrix showed significant (p<0.01) positive relationships between the predictors and the criterion variable. These are emotional intelligence (r=0.314**), communication skill (r=0.387**) and interpersonal skill (r=0.146**). The three factors predicted conflict-handling behaviour of oil workers. Therefore, government and employers of labour in oil sector could consider these factors when designing intervention training programme(s) aimed at enhancing the conflict-handling behaviour of their workers to reduce industrial conflict in the sector.

Key words: Emotional intelligence, communication skill, interpersonal skill, conflict-handling behaviour, oil workers, Nigeria.