Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Emotional Labour and Turnover Intention Among Teachers: The Moderating Role of Team Support

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Human Factors, Business Management and Leadership (AHFE 2020)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1209))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

The art and science of teaching has been profoundly described as full of emotional activity but interestingly, not much is known of the emotional demands of the profession and more especially the effects of these on the individual’s wellbeing. This research investigates the relationship between emotional labour, emotional exhaustion and turnover intention among Ghanaian teachers. Further, the study examines whether team support plays a moderating role in the relationship between emotional labour and emotional exhaustion with focus on addressing the retention of teachers in the profession. A cross-sectional quantitative data was obtained using self-completed questionnaires. A total of 628 teaching staff were surveyed in the second cycle schools in the Accra Metropolis. Structural equation modeling was used to test the study’s hypotheses. Results of the study revealed a significant association between emotional labour and turnover intention. The study also found a positive relationship between emotional labour and emotional exhaustion. In addition, the model shows that ‘faking’ has a significant negative effect on retention whereas ‘hiding’ predicts emotional exhaustion, leading to an increase in turnover intention. More experienced teachers reported higher levels of emotional labour. Team support has been found to moderate the relationship between hiding and emotional exhaustion, which could have subsequent influence on employee turnover intention. The presence of a strong team support system at the workplace could be useful for managing the emotional demands of teachers’ job role, with implications for their well-being and retention. There is the need for teachers to be aware of emotional demands of their profession in order to promote the acquisition of such skills by both experienced and newly trained teachers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Johnson, S., Cooper, C., Cartwright, S., Donald, I., Taylor, P., Millet, C.: The experience of work-related stress across occupations. J. Manag. Psychol. 5(1), 2–5 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Jones, J.R., Huxtable, C.S., Hodgson, J.T., Price, M.J.: Self-reported Work-Related Illness in 2001/2002: Results from a Household Survey. HSE Publications, Sudbury (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kyriacou, C.: Stress-Busting for Teachers. Stanley Thornes, Cheltenham (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brunetto, Y., Teo, S.T., Shacklock, K., Farr-Wharton, R.: Emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, well-being and engagement: explaining organisational commitment and turnover intentions in policing. Hum. Resour. Manag. J. 22(4), 428–441 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kinman, G., Grant, L.: Predicting stress resilience in trainee social workers: the role of emotional competencies. Br. J. Soc. Work 41(2), 261–275 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Clunies-Ross, P., Little, E., Kienhuis, M.: Self-reported and actual use of proactive and reactive classroom management strategies and their relationship with teacher stress and student behaviour. Educ. Psychol. 28(6), 693–710 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hastings, R., Bham, M.: The relationship between student behaviour patterns and teacher burnout. Sch. Psychol. Int. 24(1), 115–127 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lewis, R.: Teachers coping with the stress of classroom discipline. Soc. Psychol. Educ. 3, 155–171 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mann, S.: ‘People work’: emotion management, stress and coping. Br. J. Guid. Couns. 32(2), 205–221 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Maslach, C., Leiter, M.P.: Teacher burnout: a research agenda. In: Vandenberghe, R., Huberman, A.M. (eds.) Understanding and Preventing Teacher Burnout: A Sourcebook of International Research and Practice, pp. 295–303. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Burke, R.J., Greenglass, E.: A longitudinal study of psychological burnout in teachers. Hum. Relat. 48(2), 187–202 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Byrne, B.: Burnout: investigating the impact of background variables for elementary, intermediate, secondary and university educators. Teach. Teach. Educ. 7(2), 197–209 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Griva, K., Joekes, K.: UK teachers under stress: can we predict wellness on the basis of characteristics of the teaching job? Psychol. Health 18(4), 457–472 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kyriacou, C.: Teacher stress: directions for future research. Educ. Rev. 53(1), 27–35 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Chan, D.W.: Stress, self efficacy, social support and psychological distress among prospective Chinese teachers in Hong Kong. Educ. Psychol. 22(5), 557–569 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Travers, C.J., Cooper, C.L.: Mental health, job satisfaction and occupational stress among UK teachers. Work Stress 7(3), 203–219 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Unterbrink, T., Hack, A., Pfeifer, R., Buhl-Grießhaber, V., Müller, U., Wesche, H., Frommhold, M., Scheuch, K., Seibt, R., Wirsching, M., Bauer, J.: Burnout and effort-reward imbalance in a sample of 949 German teachers. Int. Arch. Occup. Health 80, 433–441 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Van Dick, R., Wagner, U.: Stress and strain in teaching: a structural equation approach. Br. J. Educ. Psychol. 71, 243–259 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fried, R.: The Passionate Teacher. Beacon Press, Boston (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Brennan, K.: The managed teacher: emotional labour, education, and technology. Educ. Insights 10, 2 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hargreaves, A.: Mixed emotions: teachers’ perceptions of their interactions with students. Teach. Teach. Educ. 16, 811–826 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Beatty, B.: The emotions of educational leadership: breaking the silence. Int. J. Leadersh. Educ. 3(4), 331–358 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hebson, G., Earnshaw, J., Marchington, L.: Too emotional to be capable? The changing nature of emotion work in definitions of ‘capable teaching’. J. Educ. Policy 22(6), 675–694 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Morris, J.A., Feldman, D.C.: The dimensions, antecedents, and consequences of emotional labor. Acad. Manag. Rev. 21(4), 986–1010 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Philipp, A., Schupbach, H.: Longitudinal effects of emotional labour on emotional exhaustion and dedication of teachers. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 15(4), 494–504 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Hobfoll, S.E.: Conservation of resources - a new attempt at conceptualizing stress. Am. Psychol. 44, 513–524 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bono, J., Vey, M.: Toward understanding emotion management at work: a quantitative review of emotional labor research. In: Hartel, C.E.J., Zerbe, W.J., Ashkanasy, N.M. (eds.) Emotions in Organizational Behavior, pp. 213–233. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Marwah (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Freedy, J.R., Hobfoll, S.E.: Stress inoculation for reduction of burnout: a conservation of resources approach. Anxiety Stress Coping 6(4), 311–325 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hochschild, A.R.: The Managed Heart. University of California Press, Berkeley (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Grandey, A.: Emotion regulation in the workplace: a new way to conceptualise emotional labor. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 5, 95–110 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Yang, F.-H., Chang, C.-C.: Emotional labour, job satisfaction and organizational commitment amongst clinical nurses: a questionnaire survey. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 45, 879–887 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wharton, A.S., Erickson, R.J.: Managing emotions on the job and at home: understanding the consequences of multiple emotional roles. Acad. Manag. Rev. 18, 457–486 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Chang, M.: An appraisal perspective of teacher burnout: examining the emotional work of teachers. Educ. Psychol. Rev. 3, 193–218 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Brackett, M.A., Palomera, R., Mojsa-Kaja, J., Reyes, M.R., Salovey, P.: Emotion regulation ability, burnout, and job satisfaction among British secondary-school teachers. Psychol. Sch. 47(4), 406–417 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Xanthopoulou, D., Bakker, A.B., Demerouti, E., Schaufeli, W.B.: The role of personal resources in the job-demands resources model. Int. J. Stress Manag. 14, 121–141 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Edwards, J.A., Webster, S., Van Laar, D., Easton, S.: Psychometric analysis of the UK health and safety executive’s management standards work-related stress indicator tool. Work Stress 22, 96–107 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Bolton, S.: Emotion here, emotion there, emotional organisations everywhere. Crit. Perspectives Account. 11(2), 155–171 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Allen, T.D., Herst, D.E., Bruck, C.S., Sutton, M.: Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: a review and agenda for future research. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 5, 278–308 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bechtoldt, M.N., Rohrmann, S., de Pater, I.E., Beersma, B.: The primacy of perceiving: emotion recognition buffers negative effects of emotional labor. J. Appl. Psychol. 96, 1087–1094 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Cheng, C., Bartram, T., Karimi, L., Leggat, S.G.: The role of team climate in the management of emotional labour: Implications for nurse retention. J. Adv. Nurs. 69, 2812–2825 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ashforth, B.E., Humphrey, R.H.: Emotional labor in service roles: the influence of identity. Acad. Manag. Rev. 18(1), 88–115 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Medland, J., Howard-Ruben, J., Whitaker, E.: Fostering psychosocial wellness in oncology nurses: addressing burnout and social support in the workplace. Oncol. Nurs. Forum 31, 47–54 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Acker, G.M.: The effect of organizational conditions (role conflict, role ambiguity, opportunities for professional development and social support) on job satisfaction and intention to leave among social workers in mental health care. Commun. Ment. Health J. 40, 65–73 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Poghosyan, L., Aiken, L.H., Sloane, D.M.: Factor structure of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: an analysis of data from large scale cross-sectional surveys of nurses from eight countries. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 46(7), 894–902 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Demerouti, E., Nachreiner, F., Bakker, A.B., Schaufeli, W.B.: The job demands-resources model of burnout. J. Appl. Psychol. 86, 499–512 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Vahey, D.C., Aiken, L.H., Sloane, D.M., Clarke, S.P., Vargas, D.: Nurse burnout and patient satisfaction. Med. Care 42, 57–66 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Rose, J., Glass, N.: An Australian investigation of emotional work, emotional 46 well-being and professional practice: an emancipatory inquiry. J. Clin. Nurs. 19, 1405–1414 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Panagopoulou, E., Kersbergen, B., Maes, S.: The effects of emotional (non-)expression in (chronic) disease: a meta-analytic review. Psychol. Health 17, 529–545 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Pugliesi, K.: The consequences of emotional labor: effects on work stress, job satisfaction, and well-being. Motiv. Emot. 23, 125–154 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Rafaeli, A., Sutton, R.I.: Expression of emotion as part of the work role. Acad. Manag. Rev. 12, 23–37 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Schaubroeck, J., Jones, J.R.: Antecedents of workplace emotional labor dimensions and moderators of their effects on physical symptoms. J. Organ. Behav. 21, 163–183 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Kasl, S.V.: Measuring job stressors and studying the health impact of the work environment: a epidemiological commentary. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 3, 390–401 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Glomb, T.M., Tews, M.J.: Emotional labor: a conceptualization and scale development. J. Vocat. Behav. 64(1), 1–23 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Kruml, S.M., Geddes, D.: Catching fire without burning out: is there an ideal way to perform emotional labor? In: Ashkanasy, N.M., Härtel, C.E.J., Zerbe, W.J. (eds.) Emotions in the Workplace: Research, Theory, and Practice, pp. 177–188. Quorum Books, Westport (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Zhang, Q., Zhu, W.: Exploring emotion in teaching: emotional labor, burnout, and satisfaction in Chinese higher education. Commun. Educ. 57(1), 105–122 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Deery, S., Iverson, R., Walsh, J.: Work relationships in telephone call centres: understanding emotional exhaustion and employee withdrawal. J. Manag. Stud. 39(4), 471–475 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Grandey, A.A., Tam, A.P., Brauburger, A.L.: Affective states and traits in the workplace: diary and survey data from young workers. Motiv. Emot. 26, 31–55 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  58. Bolton, S., Boyd, C.: Trolley dolley or skilled emotion manager? Moving on from Hochschild’s ‘emotional labour’ Work. Employ. Soc. 17(2), 289–308 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  59. Jones, F., Bright, J.: Stress: Myth, Theory and Research. Prentice Hall, London (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  60. Cohen, S., Wills, T.A.: Stress, social support and the buffering hypothesis. Psychol. Bull. 98(2), 310–357 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  61. Beehr, T.A., Jex, S.M., Stacy, B.A., Murray, M.A.: Work stressors and co-worker support as predictors of individual strain and job performance. J. Organ. Behav. 21, 391–405 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Zellars, K.L., Perrewé, P.L.: Affective personality and the content of emotional social support: coping in organizations. J. Appl. Psychol. 86, 459–467 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  63. Brotheridge, C.M., Grandey, A.A.: Emotional labor and burnout: comparing two perspectives of ‘people work’. J. Vocat. Behav. 60(1), 17–39 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  64. Anderson, N.R., West, M.A.: Measuring climate for work group innovation: development and validation of the team climate inventory. J. Organ. Behav. 19, 235–258 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  65. Cammann, C., Fichman, M., Jenkins, D., Klesh, J.: The Michigan Organisational Assessment Questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  66. Hair, J.F., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., Anderson, R.E.: Multivariate Data Analysis, 7th edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  67. Kline, T.J.B., Dunn, B.: Analysis of interaction terms in structural equation models: a non-technical demonstration using the deviation score approach. Can. J. Behav. Sci./Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement 32(2), 127–132 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  68. Chrisopoulos, S., Dollard, M., Winefield, A., Dormann, C.: Increasing the probability of finding an interaction in work stress research: a two-wave longitudinal test of the triple-match principle. J. Occup. Organ. Psychol. 83(1), 17–37 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  69. Brotheridge, C.M., Lee, R.T.: Testing a conservation of resources model of the dynamics of emotional labor. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 7(1), 57–67 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  70. Martínez-Iñigo, D., Totterdell, P., Alcover, C.M., Holman, D.: Emotional labour and emotional exhaustion: interpersonal and intrapersonal mechanisms. Work Stress 21, 30–47 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  71. Bartram, T., Casimir, G., Djurkovic, N., Leggat, S.G., Stanton, P.: Do perceived high performance work systems influence the relationship between emotional labour, burnout and intention to leave? A study of Australian nurses. J. Adv. Nurs. 68, 1567–1578 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  72. Leiter, M.P., Maslach, C.: The impact of interpersonal environment on burnout and organizational commitment. J. Organ. Behav. 9, 297308 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  73. Mann, S., Cowburn, J.: Emotional labour and stress within mental health nursing. J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs. 12(2), 154–162 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  74. Zwart, R.C., Wubbels, T., Bergen, T.C.M., Bolhuis, S.: Experienced teacher learning within the context of reciprocal peer coaching. Teach. Teach. Theory Pract. 13(2), 165–187 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Resource Management, Central Business School, Central University, P.O. Box 2305, Tema, Ghana

    Ophelia Delali, Dogbe Zungbey, Evans Sokro, Michael Akomeah, Ofori Ntow & Noble Osei-Bonsu

Authors
  1. Ophelia Delali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dogbe Zungbey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Evans Sokro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Akomeah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ofori Ntow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Noble Osei-Bonsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dogbe Zungbey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Production, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    Jussi Ilari Kantola

  2. Institute of Maritime Operations, University College of Southeast Norway, Borre, Norway

    Salman Nazir

  3. Häme University of Applied Sciences, Hämeenlinna, Finland

    Vesa Salminen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Delali, O., Zungbey, D., Sokro, E., Akomeah, M., Ntow, O., Osei-Bonsu, N. (2020). Emotional Labour and Turnover Intention Among Teachers: The Moderating Role of Team Support. In: Kantola, J., Nazir, S., Salminen, V. (eds) Advances in Human Factors, Business Management and Leadership. AHFE 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1209. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50791-6_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50791-6_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-50790-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-50791-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation