*Article* **Emotional Intelligence and Social Support: Two Key Factors in Preventing Occupational Stress during COVID-19**

**Giusy Danila Valenti \*, Palmira Faraci and Paola Magnano**

Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Enna Kore, 94100 Enna, Italy; palmira.faraci@unikore.it (P.F.); paola.magnano@unikore.it (P.M.)

**\*** Correspondence: giusy.valenti@unikore.it

**Abstract:** Emotional intelligence (EI) and social support are among the most investigated hypothesized variables that affect stress at work. The current study aims to evaluate the direct association between EI and occupational stress and its indirect relationship mediated by three sources of social support during the spread of the COVID-19. The total sample was composed of 367 individuals (53.7% males), aged from 20 to 68 (*M* = 37.84, *SD* = 10.39), who filled out an online questionnaire. A mediation analysis was performed to test the hypothesized relationships. Our findings showed that EI has a direct effect on psychological effects and an indirect effect on almost all the facets of occupational stress. The significant mediators were social support from both family and friends. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed and directions for future studies are suggested.

**Keywords:** occupational stress; emotional intelligence; social support; COVID-19
