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Supervisors

Dr Veronica Kelly SETU (Wexford Campus)

Abstract

This study delves into the often-overlooked aspect of Emotional Labour (EL) within social care work, specifically focusing on its impact on social care workers who support teenagers and adolescents. EL, defined as managing emotions to meet organisational objectives, is crucial in shaping best practices within care professions. While EL can yield positive outcomes, this study primarily examines its negative repercussions, particularly in relation to professional burnout among social care workers. The study explores the organisational barriers that may compel social care workers to emotionally detach from their roles as a protective measure through quantitative analysis. Drawing on Hochschild's EL concept and Goffman's symbolic interactionist theory, the research provides a nuanced evaluation of emotional surveillance and impression management within the social care sector. Key findings highlight the pressing need for effective emotional regulation, self-care practices, and open communication to mitigate the emotional stress experienced by social care workers. These insights underscore the significance of recognising and addressing EL to bolster worker morale and uphold quality care delivery. While the study offers valuable insights, it acknowledges limitations such as sample size and methodological biases. Future research endeavours should strive to overcome these limitations and delve into the varied experiences of social care workers across diverse contexts and populations. By furthering our understanding of emotional labour in social care, we can better inform practices and policies to safeguard worker well-being and enhance care quality for vulnerable populations.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

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