J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2011 Jun;17(2):158-167.

Effects of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stress on Somatization in Nurses

• Shin MK
• Kang HL

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 (beta=.136, p=.042), one of the sub-domains of emotional labor, and role overload (beta=.178, p=.023), one of the sub-domains of occupational stress and working in the ICU, OR, or ER (beta=.296, p<.001) and education level of diploma graduation (beta=.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.

Keyword

Emotional labor; Occupational stress; Somatization

MeSH Terms

Korea
Research Design
Stress, Psychological
Weights and Measures

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