Effects of emotion work on burnout and stress among human service professionals

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between emotion work (Zapf, 2002) and burnout. One hundred and eighty-two human service professionals (nurses and caregivers) completed questionnaires. A factor analysis revealed that the concept of emotion work had four main factors: "Negative emotions display", "Positive emotions display", "Emotional dissonance", and "Sensitivity requirements". In addition, the hierarchical regression analyses revealed only the main effect of "Emotional dissonance" on psychological stress reaction, whereas the main effects of all emotion work variables and two interaction effects of those on burnout. These results suggested that burnout was distinguished from psychological stress reaction by the differences in its relationship to emotion work.