The impact of emotional labor on work–family outcomes

Abstract

Theory and research on emotional labor at work is applied to the study of the work–family interface to explore how emotional experiences in both the work and the family domain relate to the experience of work–family conflict and work–family enrichment, and ultimately attitudinal and health outcomes. Emotional intelligence is also examined as a moderator of the relationship between emotional labor and affective responses to work and family life. A model focusing on emotional experiences in the both the work and family domains is proposed and tested using path analysis. Results indicate that emotional labor in both the work and family domains relate to affective responses to each respective domain, which in turn relates to work–family conflict and work–family enrichment. In turn, consistent with previous research work–family conflict relates to domain-specific satisfaction (job, life) and health outcomes (burnout, depression). Partial support was found for the proposed moderating effect of emotional intelligence.