Coping with emotional labor: an intervention study

Adam D. Weaver, Joseph A. Allen, Rebekka Erks Byrne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Emotional labor is generally seen as a response to organizational display rules, which seek to guide the employee’s emotional expressions in such a way as to benefit the organization – generally by increasing customer satisfaction and fostering a positive regard for the organization itself. This study aims to investigate the degree to which a workshop intervention providing information about emotional labor and targeting effective coping strategies could have an effect on teachers’ burnout. Design/methodology/approach: Using a sample of educators in primary and secondary schools, participants completed a pre-intervention survey, the training intervention and a post-intervention survey six months after the training. Findings: Findings indicate that helpful coping strategy responses increased from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Regression tests showed the relationships between emotional labor and burnout weakened from time 1 to time 2. Originality/value: These findings suggest that a brief, 60 min, intervention was effective in reducing the strength of the relationship between emotional labor and burnout. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1033-1048
Number of pages16
JournalManagement Research Review
Volume42
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 16 2019

Keywords

  • Burnout
  • Coping strategies
  • Emotional labor
  • Organizational theory and behavior
  • Stress
  • Teachers
  • Wellness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Business, Management and Accounting

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