| The dissertation examines emotion as an occupational stressor and its effects on health. Drawing from the stress process approach (Pearlin 1981), the work of Hochschild (1983), and Erickson and colleagues (1993, 1995, 2001, 2007), I use longitudinal survey data to investigate the influence of emotional experience and emotion management on both mental and physical health. The data (n = 795) were collected from a sample of registered nurses working within two acute care hospitals located in a mid-sized Midwestern city in the United States. In addition to the direct effects of emotion on health, the models that were tested also considered the potential mediating influence of three dimensions of self-concept (i.e., self-esteem, self-efficacy, and authenticity) and work-family conflict. I also examined the possibility that the importance of the work role might serve as a moderator of these relationships. Tests of regression models indicated support for most direct relationships. Self-concept was also found to mediate the relationship between emotion and health but these mediating effects differ depending on the particular variables examined. There was also some support for work-family spillover operating as a mediator of the relationship between emotion and health, though its influence was weaker than that reported for self-concept. Little support was found for work role importance as a moderator. Implications, future research directions, and limitations to be addressed in future research on stress, emotion and health are discussed. |
