ABSTRACT

The Effect of Emotional Labor and Positive Psychological Capital of Care Worker on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention through Subjective Awareness of Labor Human Rights


Kang, Kyoung Beum
Deptartment of Social Welfare, The Graduate school
Hoseo University
Cheonan, Korea

(Supervised by professor Young-Jea Lee)


The purpose of the present study is to improve labor conditions of the care worker and provide basic data for policy by confirming the effect of emotional labor and positive psychological capital of the care worker on job satisfaction and turnover intention through subjective awareness of labor human rights. The subjects of study were 298 of care workers working in long-term stay-at-home care facilities located in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-
do, and Chungcheongnam-do. And structured questionnaires were used for the period of 2 months from September 1 to October 30 2014. The questionnaire was analyzed by SPSS program. A summary of the results of analysis is as follows:

First, emotional labor did not have significant impact on the job satisfaction of the care worker, which is different previous studies. This result seems to be coming from the fact that the factors affecting job satisfaction of the care worker are job dissatisfaction such as salary for the care worker, long-term care policy, the surrounding environment rather than growth of oneself, repetition of task, accomplishment of work, chance for promotion.

Second, positive psychological capital has significant effect on job satisfaction of the care worker. Among sub-factors of positive psychological capital, self-confidence and conviction, hope for the job and resilience, and the power of thinking optimistically as an expression of self-efficacy are positive psychological capital that the care worker herself feels and contribute to job satisfaction.

Third, emotional labor has significant effect on turnover intention of the care worker.
The analysis shows that since the more the care worker suffers from emotional labor, the greater the turnover intention increases, it is assumed that it is needed to provide the care worker with environment for rest, space, and time enough for emotional control.

Fourth, positive psychological capital has significant effect on turnover intention of the care worker. Because positive psychological capital is closely related to emotional aspects, there should be support of the care worker that could boost her self-confidence, proper conviction, and pride in her work through regular training of positive mind and providing leasure activities.

Fifth, the subject awareness of labor human rights of the care worker has significant effect on job satisfaction. Among the factors of job satisfaction of the care worker who implements long-term care service, the subjective awareness of labor human rights seems to be very important in the circumstance in which the care worker is not respected enough by the guardian and the patient. It is needed to have standardized job guideline and promotion and education are needed for service user, guardian, and family to raise their awareness so that the care workers could be respected and work as laborer.

Sixth, the subjective awareness of labor human rights of the care worker has significant effect on turnover intention. That is, the more the care worker feels that she is not recognized as laborer by service user, guardian, and family of the patient, the greater the turnover intention increases. Many care workers quit the field of service and do not return because of the unfair labor treatment they experienced in the workplace.

Seventh, the analysis of the subjective awareness of labor human rights among the mediating effect of positive psychological capital and emotional labor on job satisfaction shows that there was not mediating effect in the effect of emotional labor, but there was mediating effect in positive psychological capital. That is, care workers with higher positive psychological capital have reinforced subjective awareness of labor human rights to contribute to increased job satisfaction.
Lastly, the subjective awareness of labor human rights among the effect of positive psychological capital and emotional labor on turnover intention had negative mediating effect on positive psychological capital only. Positive psychological capital reinforces the subjective awareness of labor human rights so that it reduces turnover intention.
Since the implementation of the Act on Long-Term Care Insurance for the Aged, there have been various studies on care workers. But there are very few studies on the status of care workers who are working as direct service providers in poor working conditions and environment. It is expected that after the present study, their should be more wide-ranging studies on the labor rights of care workers so that care workers could be respected enough as laborers in their workplace of long-term care service. Through this, there should be conditions prepared for the care workers to work actively as long-term care personnel who are the most important in the circumstances in which the demand on long-term care insurance for the aged.

Key words: care worker, emotional labor, positive psychological capital, job satisfaction, turnover intention, subjective awareness of labor human rights