Differential effects of emotional labor strategies on university counselors’ job burnout: the dual role of psychological capital as a mediator and a moderator

Results indicated that surface acting was significantly associated with job burnout, whereas deep acting and natural expression were negatively associated with job burnout. Psychological capital played a dual role: it not only mediated the relationship between emotional labor and job burnout, but also buffered the negative effect of surface acting while enhancing the protective effect of natural expression. Therefore, fostering psychological capital and promoting adaptive emotional labor strategies represent promising avenues for preventing job burnout among university counselors.