The Effects of Emotional Regulation on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

Aim/Purpose The current research examines the impact of emotional regulation on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) among nurses in selected government hospitals in Haryana. Background With the expansion of the service industry and increased competition, employees’ capacity to control their emotions has become an essential aspect of work effectiveness. In jobs like nursing that involve direct contact with patients or clients, employees are required to express emotions that project professionalism over their actual feelings. Methodology A purposive sampling method was employed to select the hospitals and study participants. The data was gathered from 200 nurses, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used for data analysis. Contribution This research shows that emotional labour is a strong predictor of both job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behaviour among nurses. Findings The results showed that surface acting did not significantly contribute to influencing job satisfaction, while deep acting significantly boosted job satisfaction. Furthermore, surface acting had a negative effect on OCB, while deep acting significantly contributed to OCB. Job satisfaction also positively predicted OCB. The findings highlight the significance of promoting genuine emotional involvement among nurses to increase their job satisfaction and promote positive organizational behaviours. Recommendations for Practitioners The study provides practical implications for hospital managers and policy-makers to develop supportive emotional work areas that enhance employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. Recommendations for Researchers Future researchers can expand this research across multiple industries and can conduct a comparative study. Longitudinal and mixed-method designs will allow for more in-depth perspectives into emotional management and work-place behaviour. Adding other variables such as emotional intelligence, resilience, and leadership support will make future models more robust. Impact on Society The results indicate that healthcare organizations need to institute training, emotional support systems, and workplace policies that assist nurses in better regulation of emotions, thus enhancing job satisfaction and voluntary behaviour. Future Research Emotional labour can also be studied in other industries, for instance, banking institutions, lawyers and judges, bill collectors, frontline managers, the aviation industry, and call centres.