Emotional Labor and Mental Health Problems in Working Individuals with Chronic Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Pain: Role of Psychosocial Reactions, Burnout and Relationship Quality

Abstract

Working individuals with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (CNMP)
usually face sustained occupational demands that tend to intensify psychological
risks. Emotional labor is a key stressor for working individuals but its role to
mental health problems is still insufficiently understood. This study examined a
moderated serial mediation model which tested whether psychosocial and
emotional reactions to pain and burnout mediate the relationship of emotional
labor and mental health problems where quality of relationship act as a
moderator. Cross-sectional correlational research design was used to extract data
from 210 working adults (Male=72, Female=138; Mage=32.30, SDage=7.34) with
CNMP using standardized self-report measures. Correlation analysis provided
preliminary support for the proposed model by indicating meaningful
associations among emotional labor, psychosocial reactions, burnout,
relationship quality and mental health outcomes. Hayes’ PROCESS Model 88
with 5,000 bootstrap samples indicated that emotional labor was positively
correlated with psychosocial and emotional reactions which in turn predicted
mental health problems but this indirect effect was weakened at higher levels of
relationship quality. Burnout did not significantly mediate the association while
the direct effect of emotional labor remained significant. This research concludes
that psychosocial and emotional reactions to chronic pain are a central
mechanism linking emotional labor to mental health problems where quality
relationships serve a protective role.