Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Sep 2023)
The Effects of Emotional Labor on Work Strain and Nonwork Strain Among Dancers: A Person-Centered Approach
Abstract
Xiaohui Liu,1 Tingxin He,2 Siqi Yu,1 Jifang Duan,3 Ruixiang Gao2,4 1School of Music, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China; 2Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Chinese Language and Literature, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China; 4Empirical Research Center for Aesthetics and Aesthetic Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jifang Duan, School of Chinese Language and Literature, South China Normal University, No. 378, Waihuan West Road, University Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Ruixiang Gao, Empirical Research Center for Aesthetics and Aesthetic Education, South China Normal University, No. 55, West of Zhongshan Avenue, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510631, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Emotional labor is an important research area, but four key gaps remain regarding outcomes of nonwork strains, explanatory frameworks beyond the conservation of resources theory, adoption of person-centered approaches, and subjects of performers.Methods: By surveying 183 Chinese dance students, we employed cluster analysis to examine the adoption of emotional labor strategies (ie, surface acting, deep acting, and expression of naturally felt emotions) and to explore the outcomes on work strain (ie, emotional exhaustion and reduced flow experience) and nonwork strain (ie, depression and anxiety) with introducing the allostatic load theory as an analytical basis.Results: Four types of emotional workers were identified, namely, flexible regulators (33.33%), authentic regulators (15.85%), display rules compliers (39.34%), and non-regulators (11.48%). Authentic regulators had the lowest emotional exhaustion. Non-regulators had the lowest flow. No differences emerged in depression or anxiety across clusters.Discussion: Findings partially align with past research showing risks of surface acting in terms of emotional exhaustion. However, all three strategies enhanced flow states. Moreover, dancers’ work strains did not extend to psychological problems, unlike other professions. Possible explanations include training in emotional regulation and flow states in performing. Practical implications exist for training emotional regulation and fostering flow at work.Keywords: dancer, emotional labor, strain, emotional exhaustion, flow experience, depression, anxiety, allostatic load theory
