Effects of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stress on Somatization in Nurses

Mee-Kyung Shin; Hyun Lim Kang

doi:10.11111/jkana.2011.17.2.158

Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs Adm > v.17(2) > 1051583

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Shin and Kang: Effects of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stress on Somatization in Nurses

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration 2011; 17(2): 158-167.

Published online: 30 June 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2011.17.2.158

Effects of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stress on Somatization in Nurses

Mee-Kyung Shin¹, Hyun Lim Kang²

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing Science, Korea Nazarene University, Korea.

²Head Nurse, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.

Correspondence: Shin, Mee-Kyung. Department of Nursing Science, Korea Nazarene University, 456, Ssangyong-Dong, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 331-718, Korea. Tel: 82-41-570-4161, Fax: 82-41-570-4260, splash92@paran.com

Received 11 January 2011 Revised 18 February 2011 Accepted 9 April 2011

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to identify the relationship of occupational stress, emotional labor, and general characteristics to somatization, and to identify factors affecting somatization in nurses.

Methods

A quantitative, descriptive research design was used to study 227 nurses. Nurses completed a 52-item self-questionnaire that included 3 concepts assessing somatization, occupational stress, emotional labor. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression.

Results

Mean scales for somatization, occupational stress, and emotional labor were 22.96±7.87, 78.73±12.29, 29.63±3.97 respectively. The explained variance for somatization was 35.5%. Among the variables, frequency of emotional display (β=.136, p=.042), one of the sub-domains of emotional labor, and role overload (β=.178, p=.023), one of the sub-domains of occupational stress and working in the ICU, OR, or ER (β=.296, p<.001) and education level of diploma graduation (β=.143, p=.028) significantly predicted degree of somatization.

Conclusion

Findings of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of somatization and related factors for nurses in Korea.

Keywords: Emotional labor, Occupational stress, Somatization

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristics of study participants (N=227)

^*ICU=Intensive care unit, ^†OR=Operation room, ^‡ER=Emergency room, ^εOPD=Outpatient department

^∥HR=Hemodialysis room, ^¶DR=Delivery room, ^#RR=Recovery room

Table 2

Mean scores for emotional labor, occupational stress, somatization (N=227)

Table 3

Analysis of differences in emotional labor, occupational stress, somatization according to general characteristics (N=227)

Table 4

Correlations between somatization and related variables (N=227)

^*p<.05, ^**p<.01

Table 5

Regression analysis for Somatization (N=227)

^*Dummy variable: Working unit(0=Others, 1=ICU, OR, ER), Pattern of work(0=Fixed worker, 2 shift worker, 1=3 shift worker), Education level(0=Baccalaureate, master, 1=Diploma), Marital status(0=Unmarried, 1=Married)

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