Effects of emotional labor on the turnover intention of kindergarten teachers: A moderated mediation model

We explored the differential impact mechanism and boundary conditions of emotional labor and its subdimensions on the turnover intention of kindergarten teachers. Our research was based on the job demands–resources model and the concept of symbolic interactionism. The results of a survey conducted with 3,679 in-service kindergarten teachers showed that use of emotional labor strategies had a significant positive predictive effect on the turnover intention of kindergarten teachers. Further, professional identity played a partial mediating role in the link between teachers’ emotional labor (surface acting) and their turnover intention. Finally, we found that as the length of teaching service increased, surface acting had a greater influence on teachers’ professional identity. Thus, kindergarten teachers’ turnover intention can be effectively reduced through surface acting.