Emotional Labor, Emotional Intelligence, and Burnout among School Principals: Testing a Mediational Model

ABSTRACT

We tested an emotional labor (EL) model, in the form of surface acting and deep acting, as a mediator in the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and burnout as experienced by public school principals. A questionnaire survey of public-school principals in a Pennsylvania County was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Surface acting was determined to be a partial mediator between EI and burnout. Results indicate a significant negative relationship between EI and surface acting, a significant positive relationship between surface acting and burnout, and a significant negative relationship between EI and burnout. The positive association found between surface acting and burnout emphasizes the importance of consonance of values held by the individual and the organization.

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the reviewers and the journal publication team for their timely support and invaluable feedback.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).