Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Fatigue is highly prevalent among doctors worldwide. However, no research has been done to examine the associations of emotional intelligence (EI) and emotional labor strategy with fatigue among Chinese doctors. This study aimed to examine whether or not emotional labor strategy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5817-7 |
| _version_ | 1828199314969591808 |
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| author | Li Liu Peiyao Xu Kexin Zhou Jiayu Xue Hui Wu |
| author_facet | Li Liu Peiyao Xu Kexin Zhou Jiayu Xue Hui Wu |
| author_sort | Li Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Fatigue is highly prevalent among doctors worldwide. However, no research has been done to examine the associations of emotional intelligence (EI) and emotional labor strategy with fatigue among Chinese doctors. This study aimed to examine whether or not emotional labor strategy mediates the association between EI and fatigue in this occupational group. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shenyang from March to April 2014. A set of self-administered questionnaires was distributed to 950 doctors, including Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and a 14-item emotional labor scale. Complete responses were obtained from 740 (77.9%) participants. Hierarchical linear regression was performed to examine the associations of EI and emotional labor strategies (surface acting, SA; deep acting, DA; natural acting, NA) with fatigue. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to examine the mediating roles of emotional labor strategies. Results The mean score of fatigue was 8.02 (SD = 3.39). After adjusting for age, gender, marital status, job rank, monthly income, weekly working time, shift and department, EI was negatively associated with fatigue (β = − 0.270, P < 0.001). SA was positively associated with fatigue (β = 0.168, P < 0.001), whereas NA was negatively associated with fatigue (β = − 0.105, P = 0.004); however, DA was not significantly associated with fatigue (β = 0.034, P = 0.381). Thus, SA (a × b = − 0.026, BCa 95% CI: − 0.050, − 0.011) and NA (a × b = − 0.024, BCa 95% CI: − 0.046, − 0.006) significantly mediated the association between EI and fatigue, respectively. Conclusions There was a high level of fatigue among Chinese doctors. EI could indirectly reduce fatigue partially through modifying SA and NA strategies, respectively. EI intervention, education and training in emotional labor should be carried out to cope with fatigue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:53:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69f9a716e333489ba79937de58e36eef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:53:22Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-69f9a716e333489ba79937de58e36eef2022-12-22T03:36:10ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-07-011811810.1186/s12889-018-5817-7Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional studyLi Liu0Peiyao Xu1Kexin Zhou2Jiayu Xue3Hui Wu4Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical UniversityDepartment of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical UniversityDepartment of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical UniversityDepartment of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical UniversityDepartment of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical UniversityAbstract Background Fatigue is highly prevalent among doctors worldwide. However, no research has been done to examine the associations of emotional intelligence (EI) and emotional labor strategy with fatigue among Chinese doctors. This study aimed to examine whether or not emotional labor strategy mediates the association between EI and fatigue in this occupational group. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shenyang from March to April 2014. A set of self-administered questionnaires was distributed to 950 doctors, including Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and a 14-item emotional labor scale. Complete responses were obtained from 740 (77.9%) participants. Hierarchical linear regression was performed to examine the associations of EI and emotional labor strategies (surface acting, SA; deep acting, DA; natural acting, NA) with fatigue. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to examine the mediating roles of emotional labor strategies. Results The mean score of fatigue was 8.02 (SD = 3.39). After adjusting for age, gender, marital status, job rank, monthly income, weekly working time, shift and department, EI was negatively associated with fatigue (β = − 0.270, P < 0.001). SA was positively associated with fatigue (β = 0.168, P < 0.001), whereas NA was negatively associated with fatigue (β = − 0.105, P = 0.004); however, DA was not significantly associated with fatigue (β = 0.034, P = 0.381). Thus, SA (a × b = − 0.026, BCa 95% CI: − 0.050, − 0.011) and NA (a × b = − 0.024, BCa 95% CI: − 0.046, − 0.006) significantly mediated the association between EI and fatigue, respectively. Conclusions There was a high level of fatigue among Chinese doctors. EI could indirectly reduce fatigue partially through modifying SA and NA strategies, respectively. EI intervention, education and training in emotional labor should be carried out to cope with fatigue.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5817-7FatigueEmotional intelligenceEmotional laborModerating roleDoctorsHospital management |
| spellingShingle | Li Liu Peiyao Xu Kexin Zhou Jiayu Xue Hui Wu Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Fatigue Emotional intelligence Emotional labor Moderating role Doctors Hospital management |
| title | Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | mediating role of emotional labor in the association between emotional intelligence and fatigue among chinese doctors a cross sectional study |
| topic | Fatigue Emotional intelligence Emotional labor Moderating role Doctors Hospital management |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5817-7 |
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