Objective  To explore correlations of emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and optimism with work engagement in policemen for determining relative contributions of the influencing factors in work engagement prediction.

  Methods  We carried out a self-administered questionnaire survey among 2 212 policemen selected with stratified random cluster sampling during 2015 – 2016. The Work Engagement Scale and Emotional Intelligence Inventory were adopted in the survey. Hierarchical linear regression and dominance analysis were employed to analyze relationships between work engagement and personal characteristics, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and optimism among the participants.

  Results  The mean scores of the participants were 83.41 ± 16.99 for emotional intelligence, 35.05 ± 6.67 for self-esteem, 14.66 ± 3.54 for optimism, and 3.10 ± 1.70 for work engagement, respectively. Emotional intelligence, self-esteem, optimism were positively correlated with vigor, dedication, absorption, and work engagement (P < 0.01 for all); after adjusting for demographic variables, the percentage increments of the three impacts′ contribution to total variance were 16.2% for vigor, 16.6% dedication, 14.4% for absorption, and 17.9% for work engagement. Dominance analysis further indicated that 40.82% of the predicted variance of work engagement was attributed to self-esteem.

  Conclusion  Work engagement of the policemen is positively influenced by personal characteristics, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and optimism significantly and the results should be concerned for the promotion of work engagement of the policemen.