When Pride Meets Fatigue: How Emotional Labor Contributes to Emotional Exhaustion in Employees
Abstract/Description
This study examines how emotional labor contributes to emotional exhaustion, using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory as a framework. Specifically, it explores whether depression acts as a mediator in this relationship, and whether pride in work moderates the effect of depression on emotional exhaustion. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire using a convenience sampling method from 322 frontline employees working in four-star and five-star hotels in Punjab, Pakistan. The data were analyzed using SPSS v23, Amos v23, and the PROCESS macro. The results show that depression significantly mediates the link between emotional labor and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, pride in work was found to buffer the negative impact of depression on emotional exhaustion. These findings offer valuable insights for hotel management to support employee mental well-being and enhance job performance. The study also has important social implications, such as reducing emotional labor, minimizing emotional exhaustion, and improving overall mental health among employees.
Keywords
Emotional labor, surface acting, deep acting, depression, pride in work, emotional exhaustion
Track
Management
Session Number/Theme
Management - Session III
Session Chair
Dr. Farooq Mughal
Start Date/Time
14-6-2025 10:55 AM
End Date/Time
14-6-2025 12:35 PM
Location
MCS 5 2nd Floor, AMAN CED Building
Recommended Citation
Rafiq, N., Abbasi, A. S., & Sarwar, A. (2025). When Pride Meets Fatigue: How Emotional Labor Contributes to Emotional Exhaustion in Employees. IBA SBS 4th International Conference 2025. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/sbsic/2025/program/64
COinS
When Pride Meets Fatigue: How Emotional Labor Contributes to Emotional Exhaustion in Employees
MCS 5 2nd Floor, AMAN CED Building
This study examines how emotional labor contributes to emotional exhaustion, using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory as a framework. Specifically, it explores whether depression acts as a mediator in this relationship, and whether pride in work moderates the effect of depression on emotional exhaustion. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire using a convenience sampling method from 322 frontline employees working in four-star and five-star hotels in Punjab, Pakistan. The data were analyzed using SPSS v23, Amos v23, and the PROCESS macro. The results show that depression significantly mediates the link between emotional labor and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, pride in work was found to buffer the negative impact of depression on emotional exhaustion. These findings offer valuable insights for hotel management to support employee mental well-being and enhance job performance. The study also has important social implications, such as reducing emotional labor, minimizing emotional exhaustion, and improving overall mental health among employees.

Comments
Topic is related to Organizational Behavior area of HRM.