Career Management and Decisions – Work, Stress, and Health

Impact of Surface Acting Emotional Labor on Depression in Healthcare Workers: The Role of Emotional Exhaustion as a Mediator

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

In this study conducted in a mixed population of non-clinical and clinical healthcare staff, we examined the association of depression with preventable work environment factors using a novel mediation analysis approach. We found that emotional labor (SaEL), emotional exhaustion, job strain, and work family interference were positively associated with depression while perceived organizational support for safety and work role functioning were negatively associated. The association between emotional labor and depression was strongly mediated through emotional exhaustion. These findings suggest that interventions regarding SaEL are needed for HCWs in order to reduce emotional exhaustion and consequently decrease the risk of depression. Further longitudinal studies are needed to verify these associations.

A Qualitative Exploration of Job Crafting in the Postdoctoral Scholar Occupation

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The current study is a qualitative exploration of the experience of job crafting among postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) in the STEM fields. The study was designed to uncover ways that postdocs shape their ambiguous roles to create wellbeing and to decrease the stressors that they experience due to the job insecurity that many experience. 32 postdocs were interviewed from November 2020 through April 2021 and qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to identify emergent themes. Themes identified were around the ways postdocs job craft toward their strengths, interests, and development to increase their wellbeing and decrease their stress due to job insecurity.

Examining the Roles of Family Factors on Retirees’ Life and Family Satisfaction and Health

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

Despite the majority of time spent with family after retirement, a paucity of studies has examined the impact of family factors on retirees? well-being. Using a sample of retirees (N = 1,522) from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), the current study showed retirees whose spouse is also retired showed higher family satisfaction compared with retirees whose spouse is not yet retired. Also, participants, who consider that time spent with their spouse is enjoyable and that they are close with their spouse, showed higher life and family satisfaction and health. The present study suggests the importance of family factors such as marital quality and spousal retirement status in retirees? well-being.