A meta-analytic review of the relationship between emotional dissonance and emotional exhaustion

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between emotional dissonance and burnout. We collected 57 independent samples that included self-report measures of emotional dissonance and emotional exhaustion from 16,165 employees. As predicted, a reliable relationship (r=.34) between the two variables was found, indicating that employees who fake their emotions at work also suffer from emotional exhaustion, a key component of job burnout. Moderation analyses indicate that effect sizes strengthen as an increasing function of publication year, and are strongest in police work, compared with other service job types. As predicted from a gender role perspective, effect sizes are more pronounced as the percentage of women increases in a sample. Results suggest that emotional dissonance may be added to the growing list of job stressors that lead to emotional exhaustion.