Psychological characteristics of emotion control in physicians and teachers

Abstract

Introduction

Emotional control can play positive role in professional growth. Are there any negative effects of emotional control on the professional activity of physicians and teachers?

Objectives and aims

To reveal the specifics of emotional control in groups of physicians and teachers with different self-reported health levels.

Methods

The study involved 160 physicians and 179 school teachers. Gender ratio and mean age in both groups were similar. The instruments used: SF-36 health survey and Ban on the emotional expression questionnaire.

Results

In general, physicians, and teachers more often than control group controlled the expression of their emotions. Physicians in comparison with teachers were more likely to restrict both positive (joy) and negative emotions (sadness, anger). Teachers with a high level of health by SF-36 had a minimal ban on the expression of sadness (P < 0.01). The maximum level of the ban on the expression of anger (P < 0.001) and fear (P < 0.05) and an aggregated ban of emotional expression was revealed in teachers with average level of health by SF-36 (P < 0.001). Expression of joy in teachers was not directly related to the self-reported health level (P > 0.05). Physicians who showed the maximum ban on the emotion expressions reported only the low health level by SF-36 (P < 0.05). It was more related to the ban on joy, and less to the ban on anger.

Conclusions

The revealed models of emotional expression control can strengthen both professional and everyday stresses in physicians and teachers. Different prevention programs are needed for these groups of professionals.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.