The effects of emotional labor on burnout, turnover intention, and job satisfaction among clinical dental hygienists / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of emotional labor on burnout, turnover intention, and job satisfaction. METHODS: Dental hygienists were surveyed over a period of 13 days during March, 2013. Data from the completed questionnaires (N=202) were analyzed using the t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Higher levels of emotional labor resulted in higher levels of burnout and turnover intention, as well as lower levels of job satisfaction. The variable showing the largest mediating effect between emotional labor and burnout was emotional intelligence. Supervisor support had the largest mediating effect between emotional labor and turnover intention, as well as emotional labor and job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the negative effects caused by emotional labor, it is necessary to foster the development of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy of employees. Employers' efforts to improve supervisor and colleague support for the employees should be made to reduce such negative effects.