The measurement of emotional reactions to work: Conceptual, methodological and research issues

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Abstract
This paper offers an overview of the literature on the measurement of emotional reactions to work. The paper opens with discussion of the meaning, definition and assessment of the terms ‘work’, ‘emotion’, and ‘health/well-being’ and then proposes that an understanding of the complex relationships among these variables should proceed through the use of ecological and interactional models. It is noted that, although there is still some controversy regarding the relationships between emotions, health and well-being, there is a growing recognition of the fact that emotions are closely related to the origins and exacerbation of disease and the promotion of health and well-being. Also, as an important context for human activity and development, the workplace can be both a direct and indirect source of negative emotions that are associated with severe stress, especially if certain workplace characteristics (e.g. quantitative and qualitative overload, poor control, low wages and poor social supports) are present. The paper summarizes some of the critical issues in the measurement of emotional reactions to work, including gender, age and culture, and lists some of the many instruments for this measurement. Lastly, the paper argues that the measurement of emotional reactions to work should proceed from a multimethod-multisource-multiemotion research strategy that samples different methods (questionnaires, behavioural observation, biological measures, etc.), emotions (anger, anxiety, happiness, etc), and sources (e.g. subject, professional, family).

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