Factors Affecting Emotional Labour among Nursing Officers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to extend the understanding on antecedents of emotional labour. along with the initial identification of the fact that some nurses in government hospitals in Sri Lanka do not display emotional labour, the relationship between Type-A/B personality, work hours, work values, educational level and the three dimensions of emotional labour (surface acting, deep acting and expressions of naturally felt emotions) were tested using data collected from 134 nursing officers of few government hospitals in Sri Lanka. The results illustrate that Type-A personality and work hours are positively related with surface acting and Type-B personality and work values are negatively related with surface acting. Type-A personality is negatively related with deep acting and work hours are negatively related with both deep acting and expressions of naturally felt emotions. Moreover, Type-B personality and work values are positively related with deep acting and expressions of naturally felt emotions. Implications are to enhance the quality of nursepatient relationships. Further it was identified that hospitals should consider the work hours and personality of the nurses.