The relationship between emotional labour and job satisfaction in nursing

Abstract

Aim To investigate the relationship between emotional labour strategies and job satisfaction among nurses in Turkey. Background Nursing is one of the professions in which emotional labour is heavily used. The relationship between emotional labour strategies and job satisfaction has many different consequences in nursing. Introduction Although studies have focused on the relationship between emotional labour and job satisfaction among nurses abroad, no studies on the subject have been found in Turkey. Methods A cross‐sectional descriptive design was employed. The study was conducted with 281 nurses working in a university hospital and three public hospitals in Manisa, Turkey. Research data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Emotional Labour Scale and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were used in data evaluation. Results Analyses showed that the type of emotional labour strategy most frequently exhibited by nurses was surface acting. In surface acting, behaviours do not reflect employees’ true feelings. Job satisfaction of nurses was higher than the medium level. A negative correlation was found between deep acting and job satisfaction. In deep acting, employees try to feel the emotions appropriate to the behaviour expected of them. Discussion Nurses’ emotional labour may cause some undesirable consequences. Conclusion Nurses’ emotional labour strategies are related to their job satisfaction levels. Implications for nursing policy Managers should be aware of the emotional labour of nurses and its possible negative consequences. Management strategies that target the negative consequences of emotional labour are important not only for the well‐being of nurses but also for the quality of patient care.

Relationships between perceived support types and the job satisfaction levels of nurses

“…The nurses' JS levels were high. This result is similar to the results of some studies in the literature 28 . In the literature, some studies reported different levels for nurses' job satisfaction 29–31 .…”

“…The job satisfaction levels of nurses working in inpatient clinics were lower than those of specialist inpatient nurses, and administrative nurses. Similarly, in the study by Gulsen and Ozmen, 28 nurse managers had higher JS than clinical nurses. Wu et al 35 stated that job satisfaction was related to the duties of nurses.…”

“…This result is similar to the results of some studies in the literature. 28 In the literature, some studies reported different levels for nurses' job satisfaction. [29][30][31] Job dissatisfaction can vary by country as well, as documented in the R4CAST study by Aiken et al 32…”

Psychosocial predictors of emotional labour among employees of merged and acquired banks in Ibadan, South-West, Nigeria

“…Therefore, job satisfaction should influence the emotional labour of bank employees, especially those bank employees that were acquired. Furthermore, job satisfaction is positively related to emotional labour, while emotional labour is negatively related to burnout ( Gulsen and Ozmen 2019 ; Grandey and Sayre, 2019 ). In the current study, the probable reason job satisfaction was not found to be a significant independent predictor of emotional labour is that the study was conducted during a crisis in the banking industry in Nigeria.…”

Emotion management and stereotypes about emotions among male nurses: a qualitative study

“…Nurses are expected to show empathy, but, at the same time, detachment is identified as a trait of professionalism [ 14 ]. Using emotion management strategies makes it possible to satisfy one’s professional obligations [ 15 , 16 ]. However, while having good emotion management strategies protects the individual [ 17 ], emotion management in itself involves stress, which appears to justify detachment and emotional disengagement to overcome suffering in the workplace [ 10 ].…”