Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T19:22:02.678Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Emotional labour and successful ageing in the workplace among older Chinese employees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2012

FRANCIS CHEUNG*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Hong Kong.
ANISE M. S. WU
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Macao, Macao.
*
Address for correspondence: Francis Cheung, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. E-mail: francischeung@LN.edu.hk

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationship between emotional labour and successful ageing among older Hong Kong Chinese workers. We also investigated whether job satisfaction mediated the association between emotional labour and successful ageing in the workplace. Results show that deep acting was positively related to successful ageing in the workplace, whereas surface acting was negatively related to the same. Structural equation modelling shows that job satisfaction partially mediated the association between emotional labour and successful ageing in the workplace. The limitations of the study and further recommendations are also discussed.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abraham, J. D. and Hansson, R. O. 1995. Successful ageing at work: an applied study of selection, optimization, and compensation through impression management. Journals of Gerontology, 50B, 2, 94103.Google Scholar
Adams, S. J. 2004. Age discrimination legislation and the employment of older workers. Labour Economics, 11, 2, 219–41.Google Scholar
Bakker, A. and Heuven, E. 2006. Emotional dissonance, burnout, and in-role performance among nurses and police officers. International Journal of Stress Management, 13, 4, 423–40.Google Scholar
Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. 1990. Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation. In Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. (eds), Successful Aging: Perspectives from the Behavioral Sciences. University of Cambridge Press, Cambridge, 134.Google Scholar
Beal, D. J., Trougakos, J. P., Weiss, H. M. and Green, S. G. 2006. Episodic processes in emotional labour: perceptions of affective delivery and regulation strategies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91, 5, 1053–65.Google Scholar
Bentler, P. M. 2003. EQS 6.1 for Windows [computer software]. Multivariate Software, Encino, California.Google Scholar
Brayfield, A. H. and Rothe, H. F. 1951. An index of job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 35, 5, 307–11.Google Scholar
Brislin, R. W. 1980. Translation and content analysis of oral and written material. In Triandis, H. C. and Berry, J. W. (eds), Handbook of Cross-cultural Psychology. Volume 1, Allyn & Bacon, Boston, Massachusetts, 389444.Google Scholar
Brotheridge, C. M. and Lee, R. T. 2002. Testing a conservation of resources model of the dynamics of emotional labour. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 7, 1, 5767.Google Scholar
Butt, D. S. and Beiser, M. 1987. Successful ageing: a theme for international psychology. Psychology and Aging, 2, 1, 8794.Google Scholar
Carstensen, L. L., Fung, H. H. and Charles, S. T. 2003. Socioemotional selectivity theory and the regulation of emotion in the second half of life. Motivation and Emotion, 27, 2, 103–23.Google Scholar
Carstensen, L. L., Gross, J. J. and Fung, H. H. 1997. The social context of emotional experience. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 17, 325–52.Google Scholar
Carstensen, L. L., Isaacowitz, D. M. and Charles, S. T. 1999. Taking time seriously: a theory of socioemotional selectivity. American Psychologists, 54, 3, 165–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cerella, J. 1990. Ageing and information-processing rate. In Birren, J. E. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), Handbook of the Psychology of Ageing. Third edition, Academic Press, New York, 201–21.Google Scholar
Cheung, F. and Tang, C. 2007. The influence of emotional dissonance and resources at work on job burnout among Chinese human service employees. International Journal of Stress Management, 14, 1, 7287.Google Scholar
Cheung, F. and Tang, C. 2009. Quality of work life as a mediator between emotional and work family interference. Journal of Business Psychology, 24, 3, 245–55.Google Scholar
Cheung, F. and Tang, C. 2010. Effects of age, gender, and emotional labour strategies on job outcomes: moderated mediation analyses. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 2, 3, 323–39.Google Scholar
Cheung, F. and Wu, A. M. S. 2010. Intention to stay in organization among older workers in Hong Kong: some preliminary analyses. Paper presented at the European Conference of Positive Psychology, 2326 June, Copenhagen, Denmark.Google Scholar
Chou, R. J. 2011. Filial piety by contract? The emergence, implementation, and implications of the family support agreement in China. The Gerontologist, 51, 1, 316.Google Scholar
Czaja, S. J. 2001. Technological change and the older worker. In Birren, J. E. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), Handbook of the Psychology of Ageing. Fifth edition, Academic Press, San Diego, California, 547–55.Google Scholar
Dahling, J. J. and Perez, L. A. 2010. Older worker, different actor? Linking age and emotional labour strategies. Personality and Individual Differences, 48, 5, 574–8.Google Scholar
Diefendorff, J. M., Croyle, M. H. and Gosserand, R. H. 2005. The dimensionality and antecedents of emotional labour strategies. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 2, 339–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gross, J. J. 1998. Antecedent- and response-focused emotion regulation: divergent consequences for experience, expression, and physiology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1, 224–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, J. J. 2002. Emotion regulation: affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39, 3, 281–91.Google Scholar
Goldberg, L. S. and Grandey, A. A. 2007. Display rules versus display autonomy: emotion regulation, emotional exhaustion, and task performance in a call centre simulation. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 12, 3, 301–18.Google Scholar
Grandey, A. A. 2000. Emotional regulation in the workplace: a new way to conceptualize emotional labour. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5, 1, 95110.Google Scholar
Grandey, A. A. 2003. When ‘the show must go on’: surface acting and deep acting as determinants of emotional exhaustion and peer-rated service delivery. Academy of Management Journal, 46, 1, 8696.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenhaus, J. H. and Beutell, N. J. 1985. Sources of conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10, 1, 7688.Google Scholar
Halbesleben, J. R. B. 2006. Sources of social support and burnout: a meta-analytic test of the conservation of resources model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91, 5, 1134–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansson, R. O., DeKoekkoek, P. D., Neece, W. M. and Patterson, D. W. 1997. Successful aging at work: Annual Review, 1992–1996: the older worker and transitions to retirement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 51, 2, 202–33.Google Scholar
Hardy, M. A. and Baird, C. L. 2003. Technology and aging in social context. In Charness, N. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), Impact of Technology on Successful Aging. Springer, New York, 2841.Google Scholar
Hedge, J. W., Borman, W. C. and Lammlein, S. E. 2006. The Ageing Workforce: Realities, Myths, and Implications for Organizations. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henne, D. and Locke, E. D. 1985. Job dissatisfaction: what are the consequences? International Journal of Psychology, 20, 1, 221–40.Google Scholar
Hochschild, A. R. 1983. The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.Google Scholar
Kline, R. B. 2010. Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modelling. Third edition, Guilford Press, New York.Google Scholar
Kooij, D., de Lange, A., Jansen, P. and Dikkers, J. 2008. Older workers’ motivation to continue to work: five meanings of age. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23, 4, 364–94.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R. S. 1991. Progress on a cognitive-motivational-relational theory of emotion. American Psychologist, 46, 8, 819–34.Google Scholar
McDowd, J. M. and Birren, J. E. 1990. Ageing and attentional processes. In Birren, J. E. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), Handbook of the Psychology of Ageing. Third edition, Academic Press, New York, 222–34.Google Scholar
Naring, G., Briet, M. and Brouwers, A. 2006. Beyond demand-control: emotional labour and symptoms of burnout in teachers. Work and Stress, 20, 4, 303–15.Google Scholar
Palmore, E. 1979. Predictors of successful ageing. The Gerontologist, 19, 5, 427–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Posthuma, R. A. and Campion, M. A. 2009. Age stereotypes in the workplace: common stereotypes, moderators, and future research directions. Journal of Management, 35, 1, 158–88.Google Scholar
Robson, S. M. and Hansson, R. O. 2007. Strategic self development for successful ageing at work. The International Journal of Ageing and Human Development, 64, 4, 331–59.Google Scholar
Robson, S. M., Hansson, R. O., Abalos, A. and Booth, M. 2006. Successful ageing: criteria for ageing well in the workplace. Journal of Career Development, 33, 2, 156–77.Google Scholar
Rowe, J. W. and Kahn, R. L. 1997. Successful ageing. The Gerontologist, 37, 4, 433–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Savery, L. K. 1988. Comparison of managerial and non-managerial employees’ desired and perceived motivators and job satisfaction. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 9, 1, 1722.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Totterdell, P. and Holman, D. 2003. Emotional regulation in customer service roles: testing a model of emotional labour. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 8, 1, 5573.Google Scholar
Totterdell, P. and Parkinson, B. 1999. Use and effectiveness of self-regulation strategies for improving mood in a group of trainee teachers. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 4, 3, 219–32.Google Scholar
Uchino, B. N., Cacioppo, J. T. and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. 1996. The relationship between social support and physiological processes: a review with emphasis on underlying mechanisms and implications for health. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 3, 488531.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yang, F. H. and Chang, C. C. 2008. Emotional labour, job satisfaction and organizational commitment amongst clinical nurses: a questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45, 6, 879–87.Google Scholar
Yeung, D. Y. and Fung, H. H. 2009. Aging and work: how do SOC strategies contribute to job performance across adulthood. Psychology and Aging, 24, 4, 927–40.Google Scholar