Emotional Labor and Burnout Among Nurses: A Meta-Analysis

Nursing is among the professions that require a high level of emotional labor due to intensive interaction with patients and their families. The necessity for nurses to regulate their emotions in accordance with organizational expectations may lead to the depletion of psychological resources and an increase in burnout levels over time. Although many studies in the literature examine the relationship between emotional labor and burnout, meta-analytic studies that comprehensively reveal the overall direction and magnitude of this relationship remain limited. The aim of this research is to evaluate the relationship between emotional labor and burnout among nurses using a systematic review and meta-analysis method. In line with the determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of seven independent studies were included in the meta-analysis. Correlation-based effect sizes were used in the analyses and a random effects model was preferred. The findings revealed a positive, moderate, and statistically significant relationship between emotional labor and burnout among nurses. The results indicate that as emotional labor increases, burnout levels also increase. Developing supportive organizational practices, balancing workloads, and strengthening psychosocial support mechanisms are important to reduce the emotional burden of nurses.