Measuring emotional labor among young workers: refinement of the Emotions at Work Scale

AAOHN J. 2006 May;54(5):201-9. doi: 10.1177/216507990605400503.

Abstract

This analysis examines the applicability of the emotional labor scale from the Emotions at Work Scale (EWS) through the assessment of its psychometric properties in a sample of young workers. Factor analysis and test-retest reliability were conducted on a 13-item scale measuring emotional labor. The EWS 13-item emotional labor scale was refined to 9 items. Two subscales were delineated: 5 items measured surface acting and 4 items measured deep acting, each with a mean inter-item correlation of 0.33. Cronbach's alpha was .96 for the 9-item scale, and .71 and .67 for the surface acting and deep acting subscales, respectively. Test-retest reliability was 0.64 for surface acting and 0.51 for deep acting during a mean interval of 3 months. Emotional labor can be quantitatively measured among young workers using the derived 9-item scale, although additional studies further evaluating its use should be conducted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Baltimore
  • Burnout, Professional / diagnosis*
  • Burnout, Professional / psychology
  • Emotions*
  • Employment / psychology
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nursing Assessment
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Observer Variation
  • Occupational Health
  • Occupational Health Nursing
  • Psychometrics
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
  • Workplace / organization & administration
  • Workplace / psychology