Need for recovery after emotional labor: Differential effects of daily deep and surface acting

Despoina Xanthopoulou, Arnold B. Bakker, Wido G.M. Oerlemans, Maria Koszucka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

95 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This diary study examines the psychological processes that contribute to daily recovery from emotional labor by combining emotion regulation with work-home resources theories. We hypothesized that overall perceptions of display rules relate positively to daily deep and surface acting. Daily surface acting was expected to relate positively to exhaustion and negatively to flow during work and consequently, to a higher need for recovery at the end of the workday. In contrast, daily deep acting was hypothesized to relate positively to flow and negatively to exhaustion and consequently, to a lower need for recovery at the end of the workday. In turn, need for recovery was expected to associate negatively to vigor at bedtime through reduced relaxation during leisure. Fifty Dutch and Polish employees first filled in a survey, and then a diary for five consecutive workdays, twice per day: at the end of the workday and before sleep. Multilevel path analyses largely supported these hypotheses suggesting that surface acting has unfavorable implications, whereas deep acting has favorable implications for daily well-being at work and recovery after work.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)481-494
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Organizational Behavior
Volume39
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2018

Keywords

  • (need for) recovery
  • deep acting
  • exhaustion
  • surface acting
  • work-related flow

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Psychology
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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