Graduation Year
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Kelsey Merlo, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Joseph Vandello, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Michael Brannick, Ph.D.
Keywords
Emotion Regulation, Emotional Dissonance, Individual-level Collectivism, Resource Loss
Abstract
Although the relationship between emotion regulation and deleterious health outcomes is a robust finding in Western cultures, studies show that this effect is attenuated in non-Western cultures. The present study employed an experience sampling method to examine the mitigating effect of cultural values (i.e., individual-level collectivism) on the relationship between emotion regulation and employee strain (i.e., job satisfaction and anxiety) through the theoretical models of emotional dissonance and resource loss (operationalized as inauthenticity and emotional exhaustion). Using data collected from 182 adults working in the service industry, I ran a multilevel path analysis to test the study’s hypotheses. Results indicated that both inauthenticity and emotional exhaustion significantly mediated the relationship between emotion suppression and job satisfaction. Emotional exhaustion also mediated the relationship between emotion suppression and anxiety. Furthermore, individual-level collectivism moderated the relationship between suppression and inauthenticity such that those who report mid and high levels of collectivism reported low levels of inauthenticity whereas those with low collectivism reported high inauthenticity when they suppress. These results suggest that, while suppression can be toxic, cultural values can be protective and promote improved well-being.
Scholar Commons Citation
Lawrence, Roxanne C., "Cultural Values as a Moderator of the Emotion Suppression to Strain Relationship: A Comparison of Two Dominant Theoretical Mechanisms" (2021). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/9165
