• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.635-643
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• 2017

This study examines the relationship between emotional labor and depression in dental hygienists. Data were collected from 186 dental hygienists working in dental clinics in Daegu from early March to early April 2016. The survey was composed of questionnaires related to general characteristics, work-related characteristics, emotional labor, and depression. As a result of analyzing the subordinate factors of emotional labor, 57.0% of the factors of 'organization support and protection system' were the highest, and the effect of emotional labor on depression was 'emotionaldisharmony and damage', 'Organizational support and protection system', and especially, the ' emotionaldisharmany and damage' factors were 4.042 times higher than normal. The dental hygienist's degree of emotional labor risk is high, and education, prevention and management measures for emotional labor will be prepared. In addition, emotional labor affects the depression of dental hygienists as well, and comprehensive mental health measures are needed to take into consideration general and occupational characteristics that affect depression.