Assessing the role of emotional intelligence in risk behavior across safety critical environments: A systematic review

Abstract

Background

Emotional Intelligence (EI) refers to the capacity to perceive, understand, regulate, and manage emotions in oneself and others. In safety–critical environments, this ability can influence risk perception and decision-making.

Objective

This systematic literature review (SLR) assesses how EI affects risk-related behaviors in domains such as aviation, ground transportation, healthcare, and psychology.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched four databases (2010–2024). After screening, 18 empirical studies spanning trait, ability, and mixed EI models were included and analyzed via narrative synthesis.

Results

Across all safety–critical domains, individuals with higher EI consistently exhibit safer decision-making and engage in fewer risk-taking behaviors. For example, pilots with higher EI show better situational awareness and decision-making performance; drivers with higher EI have fewer traffic violations; and nurses with higher EI report fewer unsafe practices. EI also appears to buffer against cognitive biases such as overconfidence and sensation-seeking, which adversely impact risk perception.

Implications

These findings suggest that EI training can improve risk management and occupational safety in high-risk industries. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of EI on risk perception and develop targeted, domain-specific interventions. This review offers a novel cross-domain perspective, extending beyond prior single-domain studies to reveal a broadly protective role of EI in safety–critical settings.