Impact of Positivity Pressure on Burnout and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Emotional demands in the workplace may significantly affect employee wellbeing. One such demand is the expectation to remain positive, known as 'positivity pressure', which has been associated with burnout and lower job satisfaction. However, it remains unclear whether burnout explains how positivity pressure influences job satisfaction.

This study therefore investigates the mediating role of burnout in the relationship between positivity pressure and job satisfaction among employees between in New Zealand and India, with a small number of participants from other countries. The final sample consisted of 129 participants.

After conducting a mediation analysis, we found that our results are consistent with previous research and support the link between positivity pressure and lower job satisfaction and burnout. However, we found that burnout partially mediates the relationship between positivity pressure and job satisfaction, but that positivity pressure also directly affects job satisfaction.

These findings may have implications for managers, practitioners, and leaders interested in understanding factors related to workplace satisfaction, job retention, and emotional safety at work.