Survival of the fittest: nurturing employee psychological resilience through the interplay of employees’ religiosity and emotional intelligence in hospitality industry

Purpose In the high-pressure environment of the hospitality industry, characterized by heavy workloads and emotional labor, fostering employee psychological resilience is no longer optional. While psychological resilience serves as a crucial coping mechanism for employees, existing literature reveals gaps in understanding its antecedents within the hospitality industry. This study investigates the role of employees' religiosity in enhancing psychological resilience among employees in the hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approach Using cross-sectional data collected from 207 respondents working in the hospitality industry in Tanzania, the study employs structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The findings indicate that employees' religiosity significantly contributes to psychological resilience, with emotional intelligence serving as a mediating factor. Practical implications The study underscores the importance of promoting religious affiliations and enhancing employees' emotional competencies within the hospitality industry. Originality/value Psychological resilience has become an increasing concern in the hospitality industry. Given the multifaceted nature of this concept and the diverse socio-cultural backgrounds of employees in the industry, this study advances knowledge on employee psychological resilience by introducing religiosity as a key antecedent, with emotional intelligence as a mediator. Utilizing the Hunt–Vitell model, the study offers a new conceptualization of the antecedents of employee psychological resilience, framing resilience as a function of moral and emotional regulation. This approach provides novel insights into mechanisms for fostering resilience in high-pressure service environments while ensuring employee well-being and consistent performance.