The influence of emotional intelligence and affectivity on emotional labor strategies at work
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Individual Differences
Publication Date
1-1-2009
Volume
30
Issue
2
First Page
75
Last Page
86
Keywords
affectivity, emotional intelligence, emotional labor, PERSONALITY, PERFORMANCE, SERVICE, MODERATOR, CONSTRUCT, CONSEQUENCES, ANTECEDENTS, PERCEPTIONS, VALIDATION, COMMITMENT, Psychology
Abstract
We investigated how affectivity and emotional intelligence (EI) influence the use of emotional labor strategies at work among 486 Chinese employees. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that negative affectivity was a significant correlate for surface acting, while EI was a significant correlate for both deep acting and expression of naturally felt emotion. Positive affectivity and EI interacted with each other to influence the adoption of various emotional labor strategies. For instance, individuals with positive affectivity and regulation of emotion, a key facet of EI, tended to use more deep acting and the expression of naturally felt emotion but less surface acting than employees who were low in regulation of emotion. Furthermore, mediation analyses revealed that EI was a mediator between positive affectivity and deep acting. We discussed limitations as well as practical and research implications of findings.
DOI
10.1027/1614-0001.30.2.75
Print ISSN
16140001
E-ISSN
21512299
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2009 Hogrefe & Huber Publishing
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Cheung, F. Y.-l, & Tang, C. S.-k. (2009). The influence of emotional intelligence and affectivity on emotional labor strategies at work. Journal of Individual Differences, 30(2), 75-86. doi: 10.1027/1614-0001.30.2.75