The Mediating Role of Teachers’ Depression Levels on The Relationship Between Emotional Labor and Burn-Out

The aim of this study is to understand the mediation effects of teachers’ depression levels on the relationship between emotional labor and burnout. The study group in this research consists of 163 teachers working at Gaziantep schools during 2013-2014 academic year. Since the research aims to analyze mediation effect of teachers’ depression levels on the relationship between emotional labor and burnout, the research design employed in this study is relational scanning model. Maslach’s Burnout Scale, Emotional Labor Scale and Depression Scale were used as data collection tools. Regression analysis of the effect of emotional labor on burnout show that, after depression level is added to the model, the effect of emotional intelligence on burnout decreases which indicates that the depression level is a mediator variable in this relationship. Results of analysis regarding mediation effect of depression levels on the relationship between teachers’ emotional labor and burnout also illustrate that depression levels are partial mediator in this relationship. Within that context, it is recommended that activities that could decrease teachers’ depression levels at schools should be organized by school administrators. Some other recommendations are presented based on findings.