Nurses’ emotions, emotional labor, and job satisfaction

The influence of teachers' psychological capital on the quality of work life: exploring the mediating impact of emotions

Introduction

The aim of this study is to investigate whether emotions play a mediating role in determining the effect of teachers' psychological capital (PsyCap) on the quality of work life (QWL).

Methods

The current study presents an investigation on the mediating role of emotions and their effect on teachers' PsyCap at their work life. The study used scales including Psychological Capital Scale (PsyCapS), Quality of Work Life Scale (QWLS) and Emotions Scale (ES). The scales were all applied to administrators and teachers in state schools in TRNC. The sample of the study consists of 369 teachers and school administrators. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 for descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. In addition, structural equation modeling was performed with AMOS to examine the potential mediating effect of emotions on the relationship between PsyCap and QWL.

Results

As a result, the mediating role of emotions in the relationship between teachers' PsyCap and perceptions of QWL was fully supported. There was a significant correlation between teachers' PsyCap, perceptions of QWL and emotions. PsyCap was found to have a significant and positive effect on both emotions and perceptions of QWL. In addition, PsyCap was found to have a significant positive relationship with QWL.

Discussion

Among TRNC teachers, PsyCap has a significant positive relationship with both emotions and perceptions of QWL. PsyCap can directly or indirectly increase the perception of QWL through the relationship with emotions. Therefore, teachers' positive PsyCap can positively increase their emotions and perceptions of QWL.

Job satisfaction among hospital nurses: An updated literature review

BACKGROUND

Nurses' job satisfaction has long been a global concern because of the critical significance it holds on nurse turnover and the quality and safety of patient care.

OBJECTIVES

To perform an updated literature review of the newly emerging studies on job satisfaction among hospital nurses.

DESIGN

Literature review.

DATA SOURCES

Ten electronic database (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index, CNKI, SinoMed, CQVIP, WanFang) were searched for studies published between September 2018 and May 2024.

REVIEW METHODS

Studies were included if they published in English or Chinese and focused on job satisfaction of qualified general nurses working in acute care hospitals. Data extraction, synthesis and content analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 28,584 studies originally identified, 52 studies were included in the final review. Thirty-eight influencing factors and twenty-nine predictors of nurses' job satisfaction across the domains of demographic characteristics, individual cognition and behaviors, and working environment and management were newly added in this updated review. Sixty-five factors, which were further grouped into eight subcategorizations: demographic characteristics, personality traits, emotion, behaviors, psychological and cognitive factors, organizational climate, leadership and management, were additionally identified as related factors of nurses' job satisfaction. Factors relating to nurses' individual cognition and behaviors mainly played mediating roles in the mediating pathways linking various factors with job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides improved understanding of nurses' job satisfaction. Future studies could further explore the mechanisms by which factors relating to working environment and management predict or affect nurses' job satisfaction. The newly identified intrinsic factors from the mediating or moderating pathways offered valuable intervention insights for the improvement of nurses' job satisfaction.

A pathway for nurses from work strain to anger: mediation of social intelligence

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the mediating role of social intelligence in the effect of nurses' work-related strain on trait anger and anger expressions. The challenging working conditions for nurses often result in increased strain and anger. Social intelligence could help to manage anger.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 446 nurses at a public hospital in Türkiye between April and May, 2021. The questionnaire consisted of socio demographics, Trait Anger and Anger Expression Inventory, Tromso Social Intelligent Scale, and Work-Related Strain Inventory. The data was collected face to face. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were conducted using SPSS (v.26) and mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro (Hayes, model 4).

FINDINGS

Social intelligence played a mediating role in the effect of work-related strain on trait anger, anger-in, anger-out, and anger-control (β = 0.105, β = 0.100, β = 0.131, β=-0.136, respectively). Social intelligence reduced the effect of work-related strain on trait anger and anger in/out expressions, while increasing anger control.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study show that social intelligence could be used to manage anger of nurses. Nurse managers could implement initiatives aimed at managing nurses' anger and anger expressions through the decreasing of work-related strain and increasing of nurses' social intelligence.

The Level and Outcomes of Emotional Labor in Nurses: A Scoping Review

Aims: This scoping review aims to examine the level and outcomes of emotional labor in nurses. Background: Nursing is a highly emotional profession that requires nurses to experience a wide range of emotions and control their emotional expressions in nursing practice. Chronic emotional labor and emotional burden not only impact nurses' individual well-being and professional performance but also their job satisfaction and turnover intention. Evaluation: This scoping review was guided by a five-stage scoping review framework and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Eight databases were searched and 41 studies were reviewed. Key Issues: The Emotional Labor Scale and the Emotional Labor Scale for Nurses were the most commonly used instruments. Significant associations were found between emotional labor and 52 outcomes, which were categorized into two main themes: nurses' personal well-being and organizational well-being. There were 19 mediators and 12 moderators between nurses' emotional labor and 26 different outcomes. Conclusions: While the level of emotional labor among nurses remains uncertain, its consequences are plentiful and intricate. Studies have shown an important relationship between nurses' emotional labor and individual and organizational well-being, which is crucial for nurse managers. There is a need to explore the positive effects of nurses' emotional labor and its impact on patients. Additionally, validation studies of the instruments used to measure nurses' emotional labor are necessary. Implications for Nursing Management: The insights gained from this scoping review provided a more comprehensive understanding of emotional labor for nurse managers. This knowledge can be utilized to design training programs on emotional management and to explore different interventions aimed at alleviating the adverse impacts of nurses' emotional labor.

Understanding person-centered care within a complex social context: A qualitative study of Saudi Arabian acute care nursing

Policy reforms implemented in Saudi Arabia in recent years aim to modernize the culture and infrastructure of healthcare delivery and are expected to integrate person- and patient-centered care principles throughout the national healthcare system. However, in a complex multicultural environment where most nurses are international migrant workers, unique challenges emerge that frame the delivery of care. Better understanding is needed about what nurses perceive to be high-quality, person-centered care in Saudi Arabia and how they manage to enact it in practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 nurses working in two tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, the capital city. Participants included Saudi citizens (n = 9) and expatriates (n = 12) who were asked to describe their perceptions of quality nursing care and explain the obstacles that they encounter in providing such care. Nurses reported extensive efforts to achieve individualized, empathetic, developmentally appropriate care. Their descriptions of care aligned with principles of patient-centeredness in care but were not separable from challenges at the patient, organizational, and regional levels, including staffing and supplies shortages, gaps in regional care coordination, inadequate language translation services, variability in cultural beliefs about healthcare communication, and overt discrimination against expatriate workers. Nurses reported creative strategies to achieve professional nursing values while navigating a dynamic landscape of constraints. The findings add to literature suggesting that person-centeredness in care cannot be understood outside the social and organizational conditions that shape it.

Effect of compassion fatigue on emotional labor in female nurses: Moderating effect of self-compassion

Emotional labor is common in nursing but may be affected by the mental state of nurses. This study explored the effect of compassion fatigue on emotional labor and whether self-compassion moderates this effect of compassion fatigue.

METHODS

A two-stage survey design with a convenience sample. Participants were female nursing staff recruited from emergency departments, intensive care units, ward nursing units, and outpatient departments of medical centers, regional hospitals, and district hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 300 questionnaire copies in each of the first and second stages were distributed, and 272 pairs of responses were retrieved (valid response rate = 91%). The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were tested, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with AMOS 21. The proposed hypotheses were verified using hierarchical regression conducted with SPSS version 25.0.

RESULTS

This study revealed that compassion fatigue positively predicted surface acting (β = 0.12, p < 0.05) and negatively predicted deep acting (β = -0.18, p < 0.01) and expression of genuine emotions (β = -0.31, p < 0.01). In addition, self-compassion negatively moderates the relationships between compassion fatigue and surface acting (β = -0.12, p < 0.05), and positively moderates the relationships between compassion fatigue and expression of genuine emotions (β = 0.15, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

To avoid excessive consumption of emotional resources, nurses with high compassion fatigue may employ surface acting by engaging in emotional labor without making an effort to adjust their feelings. Nurses need also be sympathized with, and such sympathy can come from hospitals, supervisors, colleagues, and, most crucially, the nurses themselves. Hospital executives should propose improvement strategies that can prevent the compassion fatigue on nurses, such as improving nurses' self-compassion.

The impact of COVID-19 on nurses' job satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The global healthcare landscape was profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic placing nurses squarely at the heart of this emergency. This review aimed to identify the factors correlated with nurses' job satisfaction, the impact of their job satisfaction on both themselves and their patients, and to explore strategies that might have counteracted their job dissatisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of prevalence and incidence was used in this review. The electronic databases of CINAHL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, PsycINFO and Academic Search Complete were searched between January 2020 to February 2023.

Results

The literature review identified 23 studies from 20 countries on nurses' job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pooled prevalence of 69.6% of nurses were satisfied with personal, environmental, and psychological factors influencing their job satisfaction. Job satisfaction improved psychological wellbeing and quality of life, while dissatisfaction was linked to turnover and mental health issues.

Conclusion

This systematic review elucidates key factors impacting nurses' job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects on healthcare provision, and the potential countermeasures for job dissatisfaction. Core influences include working conditions, staff relationships, and career opportunities. High job satisfaction correlates with improved patient care, reduced burnout, and greater staff retention.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023405947, the review title has been registered in PROSPERO and the registration number is CRD42023405947.

Brief Version of the Frankfurt Emotional Work Scale and Gender Difference in Emotional Labour

This study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of a brief version of the Frankfurt Emotion Work Scale (FEWS) adapted to Spanish in a sample of teachers, taking into consideration gender differences. Method: The sample consisted of 9020 teachers of public education in the Valencian Community (Mage = 45.33 years, SD = 9.15; 72.5% female). Results: The psychometric properties are adequate. It consists of 12 items grouped into six factors that explain 79.54% of the variance. Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability coefficients (CRC) for the full scale are adequate: α = 0.79; CRC = 0.90. Confirmatory Factorial Analyses also confirm the structure of the scale (χ2 = 890.36, S-B χ2 = 747.38, df = 39, NFI = 0.945, NNFI = 0.911, CFI = 0.947, IFI = 0.947, MFI = 0.925, and RMSEA = 0.069). Convergent and discriminant validity were also probed. Finally, a gender effect over Emotional labour was found, there was a difference between gender in the scale and all of the dimensions of the questionnaire, with higher values on women. Conclusions: according to the results of this study, the use of this diagnostic tool for Spanish non-university teachers appears to be justified.

Can Teleworking Improve Workers' Job Satisfaction? Exploring the Roles of Gender and Emotional Well-Being

With the rise of teleworking during the past decades, the impacts of teleworking on job satisfaction have been extensively debated. Teleworking might benefit workers by improving work-life balance and emotional well-being, but it also brings considerable challenges. This study empirically investigates the impacts of teleworking on workers' enjoyment across daily working episodes and job satisfaction and its gendered patterns, using Ordinary Least Squares regressions and the latest nationally representative time-use survey data in the UK. Moreover, it uses the Karlson/Holm/Breen (KHB) decomposition method to examine the role of enjoyment at work in mediating the associations between teleworking and job satisfaction. Overall, this study yields two major findings. First, among men, teleworkers tend to have higher levels of enjoyment at work and job satisfaction, but this is not the case for women. Second, around 46% of teleworking's positive impacts on men's job satisfaction can be explained by higher levels of enjoyment at work. Taken together, by integrating different theoretical perspectives on teleworking, gender and emotional well-being, this study provides interdisciplinary insights into the nuanced social consequences of teleworking, highlights the disadvantaged position of women in the use of teleworking, and demonstrates the need to enhance emotional well-being in future labour market policies.

Emotional labour behavior of nursing students: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aimed to determine the opinions of nursing students on emotional labor behavior.

BACKGROUND

It is of importance to teach emotional labor behavior to nursing students, the nurses of the future.

DESIGN

The research has a phenomenological qualitative design.

METHOD

Participants consisted of 20 nursing students who were in face-to-face communication with patients in clinical practice. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was used to report this research.

RESULTS

Considering the theoretical structure of the subject, emotional labor behavior was examined under three main themes: surface acting, deep acting, and genuine acting.

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional labor behavior affects students' approach to patients and performance in clinical practice. Education has a supportive effect on the management of emotions and the guidance of the clinical environment and clinical services.

Mediating effects of emotion regulation between socio-cognitive mindfulness and empathy in nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background

Acknowledging the under-examined research of socio-cognitive mindfulness and Gross’s emotion regulation strategies in nursing, this study investigated the relationships between socio-cognitive mindfulness, emotion regulation (i.e., reappraisal and suppression), and empathy among nurses. It also explored the mediating effects of emotion regulation.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in a sample of 245 nurses from two university hospitals in South Korea. Convenience sampling was used to collect data between August 3 and September 29, 2020. Participants completed the questionnaire measuring their socio-cognitive mindfulness, emotion regulation, and empathy. Structural equation modeling and path analysis were conducted for data analysis.

Results

Socio-cognitive mindfulness positively influenced emotion regulation of reappraisal (β = 0.404, p < 0.01) and empathy (β = 0.402, p < 0.01), but negatively influenced emotion regulation of suppression (β = −0.149, p < 0.05). Reappraisal positively influenced empathy (β = 0.341, p < 0.01), whereas suppression negatively influenced empathy (β = −0.127, p < 0.05). Importantly, emotion regulation of reappraisal mediated the association between socio-cognitive mindfulness and empathy (a X b = 0.107, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The findings indicate that socio-cognitive mindfulness is effective in improving empathy among nurses by enhancing reappraisal. This study can provide a foundation for developing socio-cognitive mindfulness or emotion regulation programs to improve empathy among nurses, which would ultimately lead to better nursing performance by increasing patient satisfaction.

Role of affective commitment in the relationship between emotional labor and life satisfaction in nurses

PURPOSE

This study investigated relationships between hospice nurses' emotional labor, life satisfaction, and affective commitment (moderator). We started with the assumption that displaying real emotions rather than faking them may increase life satisfaction.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study utilized a cross-sectional survey data analysis. A total of 322 nurses participated in the study. Hayes' process examined the moderation relationship predicting emotional labor and life satisfaction.

FINDINGS

The results showed that emotional labor partially affected life satisfaction. However, those effects varied at different levels of affective commitment and interestingly diminished at a high level.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurse leaders should understand and transform the surface emotional setting of nurses to more profound acting emotions and then to natural emotional responses, which otherwise can generate emotional conflict causing unsatisfactory life.

The relationships between novice nurses' emotions management skills and happiness levels: A cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

To determine the relationships between the novice nurses' emotional management skills and their happiness levels.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 398 novice nurses in Istanbul using a Nurse Fact Sheet, Emotions Management Skills Scale (EMSS), and the Oxford Happiness Scale Short Form.

FINDINGS

It was determined that the "Verbal expression of emotions," "Control of negative body response," and "Coping" subdimensions of the EMSS accounted for 21% of the variance in the total variable of the happiness scale (p < 0.001).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Novice nurses should be supported with training to improve their emotional management skills throughout their working lives, starting from the hospitalization phase. Factors that negatively affect nurses' happiness levels should be controlled.

The Moderator Effect of Communicative Rational Action in the Relationship between Emotional Labor and Job Satisfaction

The aim of this study was to determine whether emotional labor behavior has an effect on job satisfaction, and if there is an effect, to reveal whether communicative rational action has a moderator effect. This research was carried out in the banking sector. The sample group consisted of administrators of foreign capital bank managers (427) at all levels in Turkey. The collected data were analyzed with the IBM SPSS 21 program. Multiple regression analysis and SPSS PROCESS v3.5 (model1) methods were used in the analysis. According to the analysis, the three sub-dimensions of communicative rational action (practical-rational action, rational communication, and rational action) have a moderator role in the effect of emotional labor and job satisfaction. The other two sub dimensions (value–rational–action and firm family) do not have a moderator role in this effect. In the analysis made according to the total score of communicative rational action, the moderator role of communicative rational action in the effect of emotional labor and job satisfaction was determined. As a result of the research and analysis, it was determined that emotional labor has a positive effect on the phenomenon of job satisfaction.

Job Satisfaction and Psychological Distress among Help-Seeking Men: Does Meaning in Life Play a Role?

Men’s low job satisfaction has been shown to be associated with greater symptoms of psychological distress. Meaning in life may be an important factor in this relationship, but its role as a mediator has not been reported. The present study investigated meaning in life as a mediator in the relationship between job satisfaction and psychological distress among men. A total of 229 employed Canadian men participated in a cross-sectional survey, completing measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, anger severity, job satisfaction, and the presence of meaning in life. Zero-order correlations were calculated, and regression with mediation analyses were conducted; two models were tested: one for anxiety/depression symptoms and one for anger, as the dependent variables. Both mediation models emerged as significant, revealing a significant mediating effect for job satisfaction on the symptoms of psychological distress (anxiety/depression symptoms, anger) through meaning in life, even while controlling for salient confounding variables including COVID-related impacts. Lower job satisfaction was associated with less meaning in life, which in turn was associated with more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger. The findings highlight the importance of job satisfaction in the promotion of a sense of meaning in life among men, leading to improved psychological well-being both inside and outside of the workplace.

Work Environment Characteristics and Emotional Intelligence as Correlates of Nurses' Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

This cross-sectional survey study examined the relationship between Canadian nurses' work environment characteristics, emotional intelligence, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction (n = 1271). Psychological demands, decision latitude, supervisor and coworker support, and emotional intelligence (EI) were significantly correlated with nurses' compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, except for two EI subscales. Furthermore, these relationships were stronger for compassion satisfaction than compassion fatigue, suggesting that they are influenced by different factors. Our results highlight the importance of creating reasonable psychological demands, empowering nurses to make decisions in their jobs, supportive relationships at work, and fostering the development of nurses' EI.

The Experience of Emotional Labor and Its Related Factors among Nurses in General Hospital Settings in Republic of Korea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the status of emotional labor and its related factors among nurses in general hospital settings in Korea. A total of seven electronic databases were comprehensively searched to find relevant cross-sectional studies published up to 28 January 2021. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata version 13.1. In total, 131 studies were included. The population showed a standardized mean difference of 3.38 (95% confidence interval, 3.34 to 3.42) in emotional labor assessed by a 1–5 Likert scale. The level of emotional labor had significant negative correlations with job satisfaction, social support, organizational engagement, coworker support, resilience, and nurses’ work environment, while it had significant positive correlations with emotional labor and burnout, turnover intention, and job stress. Although the methodological quality of the included studies was generally good, 24 of the included studies (18.32%) were evaluated as lacking generalization potential or otherwise as unclear. In conclusion, nurses in general hospital settings in Korea experience mild-to-moderate levels of emotional labor. There is some evidence that the emotional labor of nurses and its detrimental effects can be buffered at both the individual and hospital levels, and future research should focus on developing targeted interventions and evaluating their effectiveness.

The influence of maladaptive coping modes, resilience, and job demands on emotional exhaustion in psychologists

Although it is well established that emotion-focused coping is associated with burnout, the schema therapy model may improve the prediction of who is most vulnerable to using emotion-focused coping and what kinds of emotion-focused coping carry the greatest risk of burnout. It is also unknown the extent to which resilience might buffer against maladaptive coping in protecting against burnout. The present study investigated whether maladaptive coping modes would incrementally predict emotional exhaustion (EE) adjusting for resilience and whether resilience might moderate the effect of maladaptive coping on EE. The possible role of maladaptive coping as a mediator of job demands on EE was also explored. Four hundred and forty-three clinical and counselling psychologists completed online measures of job demands, EE, resilience, and maladaptive coping modes. The Detached Protector mode was associated with greater EE after adjusting for resilience. Bully and Attack mode was associated with greater EE when considered separately from other coping modes but associated with decreased EE when considered together. Resilience did not moderate the effect of job demands on EE, or the effect of coping modes on EE, except for Compliant Surrenderer. Coping modes only partially mediated the effect of job demands on EE accounting for 20% or less of its effect. Maladaptive coping modes appear to make independent contributions to the risk of EE and efforts to reduce burnout in psychologists should focus dually on increasing resilience-building practices and decreasing maladaptive coping.

Job Satisfaction Among Home Healthcare Nurses

Understanding the experiences of home healthcare nurses and exploring the factors that influence job satisfaction is important in reducing costly staff turnover. The purpose of the qualitative case study was to describe experiences related to job satisfaction among home healthcare nurses. Herzberg's Two Factor theory was used to frame the study. Twelve home healthcare nurses from an agency in South Texas volunteered to participate in in-depth interviews. Four themes emerged from the data: 1) patients contribute to job satisfaction, 2) autonomy promotes job satisfaction, 3) occupational stressors negatively influenced job satisfaction, and 4) leadership impacts job satisfaction. Home healthcare leadership should take safety concerns seriously and explore innovative ways to promote communication between field nurses and physicians. Further research is needed with a larger and more diverse sample of home healthcare nurses in order to be able to generalize findings.