INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL LABOR AND BORNOUT LEVELS OF MIDWIVES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between emotional labor and burnout levels of midwives during Covid19 pandemic. It's a cross-sectional study. The study population consist of all midwives around Turkey (N=56,000). The minimum sample size was calculated as 382; however a total of 159 midwives participated due to their workload, inability to deliver the research survey to all, and unwillingness to participate in the research. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Attributes Information Form, Emotional Labor Scale, and Coronavirus Burnout Scale. Midwives’ Emotional Labor Scale mean score was 39.126±7.88 (min:18, max:60) and the Covid-19 Burnout Scale mean score was 41.151±7.34 (min:15, max:50). Considering the relationship between emotional labor and burnout level, they positively affected each other. That is, as emotional labor increased, the burnout level increased too (p<0.05). The presence of a child had an impact on emotional labor, whereas occupational regret, change in workload during the pandemic and daily average sleep duration had an impact on burnout level. The study results showed that emotional labor and burnout levels of midwives were high during the pandemic.