Emotional labour, emotional regulation strategies, and secondary traumatic stress: a cross-sectional study of allied mental health professionals in the UK

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study investigates relations among emotional labour, emotional regulation strategies, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in a sample of allied mental health professionals (AMHPs) in the UK. It empirically examines the relationship between emotional labour and STS; and, explores the moderational role of emotional regulation strategies. Participants included 99 clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, and psychiatric social workers who completed an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of items related to demographics, emotional labour (surface acting and deep acting), emotional regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), and STS. Fifty-one percent of participants reported high levels of STS. Data analysed using hierarchical multiple regression revealed that age, surface acting, and expressive suppression significantly predicted STS. Deep acting predicted STS only for those participants who reported high levels of STS. Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression did not moderate the relationship between emotional labour and STS. Limitations of the study mainly relate to its small sample size. It contributes to the literature by highlighting high levels of STS among AMHPs and providing a rationale for future research on the construct. In addition, it promotes the development of AMHPs’ personal capabilities and professional resources to ensure effective delivery of mental health services.