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Association of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stressors with Depressive Symptoms among Women Sales Workers at a Clothing Shopping Mall in the Republic of Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

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  • Yuh-Jin Chung

    (Department of Psychiatry, Mentors Hospital, Seoul 02617, Korea)

  • Woo-Chul Jung

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan 15459, Korea)

  • Hyunjoo Kim

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea)

  • Seong-Sik Cho

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang 14068, Korea)

Abstract

In the distribution service industry, sales people often experience multiple occupational stressors such as excessive emotional labor, workplace mistreatment, and job insecurity. The present study aimed to explore the associations of these stressors with depressive symptoms among women sales workers at a clothing shopping mall in Korea. A cross sectional study was conducted on 583 women who consist of clothing sales workers and manual workers using a structured questionnaire to assess demographic factors, occupational stressors, and depressive symptoms. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the association of these stressors with depressive symptoms. Scores for job stress subscales such as job demand, job control, and job insecurity were higher among sales workers than among manual workers ( p < 0.01). The multiple regression analysis revealed the association between occupation and depressive symptoms after controlling for age, educational level, cohabiting status, and occupational stressors (sβ = 0.08, p = 0.04). A significant interaction effect between occupation and social support was also observed in this model (sβ = −0.09, p = 0.02). The multiple regression analysis stratified by occupation showed that job demand, job insecurity, and workplace mistreatment were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in both occupations ( p < 0.05), although the strength of statistical associations were slightly different. We found negative associations of social support (sβ = −0.22, p < 0.01) and emotional effort (sβ = −0.17, p < 0.01) with depressive symptoms in another multiple regression model for sales workers. Emotional dissonance (sβ = 0.23, p < 0.01) showed positive association with depressive symptoms in this model. The result of this study indicated that reducing occupational stressors would be effective for women sales workers to prevent depressive symptoms. In particular, promoting social support could be the most effective way to promote women sales workers’ mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuh-Jin Chung & Woo-Chul Jung & Hyunjoo Kim & Seong-Sik Cho, 2017. "Association of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stressors with Depressive Symptoms among Women Sales Workers at a Clothing Shopping Mall in the Republic of Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:12:p:1440-:d:120104
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    1. Richman, J.A. & Rospenda, K.M. & Nawyn, S.J. & Flaherty, J.A. & Fendrich, M. & Drum, M.L. & Johnson, T.P., 1999. "Sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse among university employees: Prevalence and mental health correlates," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(3), pages 358-363.
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    1. Won Ju Hwang & Hye Kyung Yang & Ji Hye Kim, 2020. "What Are the Experiences of Emotional Labor and Workplace Violence that Are More Harmful to Health in Korean Workforce?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Haena Kim & Kang-Sook Lee, 2021. "Association of Stress Management with Success of Smoking Cessation in Korean Female Emotional Labor Workers for Service and Sales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Greta Mazzetti & Silvia Simbula & Chiara Panari & Dina Guglielmi & Alessio Paolucci, 2019. "“Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda”. Workers’ Proactivity in the Association between Emotional Demands and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Gintarė Kalinienė & Dalia Lukšienė & Rūta Ustinavičienė & Lina Škėmienė & Vidmantas Januškevičius, 2021. "The Burnout Syndrome among Women Working in the Retail Network in Associations with Psychosocial Work Environment Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    5. Dahyeon Lee & Kang-Sook Lee & Ahnna Lee & Hyeju Ahn & Hyun-Kyung Lee & Hyekyeong Kim & Jakyoung Lee & Hong-Gwan Seo, 2021. "Successful Smoking Cessation among Women Smokers Based on Utilizing National Smoking Cessation Service Type in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.

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