Modeling Self-determination in Emotional Labor: Stressful Patient Interactions, Emotion Regulation, and Burnout in Geriatric Nursing

摘要

Integrating theorizing on emotional labor performed by human service workers with assumptions of self-determination theory, this study tests a model of stressful patient interactions, psychological regulation of negative emotions, and symptoms of job burnout in healthcare professionals. Survey data of N= 1848 geriatric nurses in 111 nursing homes for the elderly in Germany were analyzed using latent-variable structural equation modeling. The specified phase model of interaction work and emotional regulation was well supported by the data. Emotion regulation mediated between stressful patient interactions and three dimensions of job burnout, namely emotional exhaustion, depersonalization. and reduced accomplishment. Differential correlational patterns confirmed faking in bad faith and deviant display as psychologically maladaptive. whereas faking in good faith and deep acting were found to be more functional. As hypothesized, factors connected to psychological need fulfillment according to self-determination theory positively influenced interactions, emotion regulation. and coping processes.