Latent profile analysis on Korean nurses: Emotional labour strategies and well-being

To identify the unique profiles of emotional labour management strategies among Korean nurses in regards to the preferences of surface acting (affecting emotions required at the workplace) and deep acting (trying to genuinely experience emotions required at the workplace), a latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted. In addition, differences in psychological and occupational well-being between the discovered profiles are examined.

An exploratory, cross-sectional LPA design was employed.

Nurses (N = 204) working in university hospitals in South Korea responded to the survey during November 2019. Participants completed the Emotional Labour Questionnaire, a portion of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire short form and the Turnover Intentions Scale.

As a result of LPA on nurses' surface acting and deep acting, five profiles were discovered: non-actors, surface actors, moderators, regulators and high regulators. In addition, differences in emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction and turnover intentions between profiles were examined. Profiles that used high levels of surface acting had high levels of emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions.

Nurses with characteristics of surface actors, high regulators profiles in emotional labour context are more prone to emotional exhaustion and turnover possibilities, compared with other profiles (non-actors, moderators and regulators).

Insights from the current study are beneficial to hospitals in preventing potential emotional exhaustion and nurse turnover by responding to high-risk profiles and customizing emotional labour management policies with regards to the different profiles of nurses' emotional labour.