Effects of Social Support and Emotional Intelligence in the Relationship between Emotional Labor and Burnout among Clinical Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of social support and emotional intelligence in the relationship between emotional labor and burnout among clinical nurses. Methods: The sample for this study consisted of 382 nurses from four hospitals located in Seoul or Gyunggi Province. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Scheff test, Pearson Correlation, Hierarchical Multiple Regression, and Path Analysis. Results: It was found that: (a) emotional labor had a positive effect on burnout, while social support and emotional intelligence had negative effects on burnout; (b) social support and emotional intelligence moderated the relationship between emotional labor and burnout, and (c) social support mediated the relationship between emotional labor and burnout, whereas emotional intelligence did not. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that high levels of support had a buffering effect and mitigated the negative effects of the emotional labor on burnout. Therefore, strategies to enhance social support for nurses are needed and further research needs to be done to refine this study.