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Emotional labor in American professors.
Kevin T Mahoney1, Walter C Buboltz, John E Buckner
1Department of Psychology, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USA. kmahoney@latech.edu
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
|September 28, 2011
Summary
Emotional labor significantly impacts work attitudes for U.S. professors, affecting emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and commitment. Genuine positive expression showed the strongest direct links to these outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Emotional labor is a key aspect of many professions, particularly in academia.
- Understanding its impact on faculty well-being and job attitudes is crucial for higher education institutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between emotional labor and work outcomes among United States professors.
- To test models of emotional labor and its influence on emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and affective commitment.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to a national sample of 598 U.S. professors.
- Path analysis was used to test two models of emotional labor and its effects on work attitudes.
Main Results:
- Emotional labor demonstrated significant direct relationships with emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction.
- Emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction mediated the link between emotional labor and affective commitment.
- Genuine positive emotional expression was uniquely associated with all measured work outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Emotional labor experiences are directly linked to faculty's emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction.
- Job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion play a mediating role in how emotional labor influences faculty commitment.
- Genuine positive expression in emotional labor is particularly important for positive work attitudes in academia.
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