Using residual dynamic structural equation modeling to explore the relationships among employees’ self-reported health, daily positive mood, and daily emotional exhaustion

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among self-reported health, daily positive mood, and daily emotional exhaustion among employees in health and fitness clubs using residual dynamic structural equation modeling (RDSEM). A questionnaire was completed by 179 employees at recruitment and then a diary survey over 10 consecutive workdays. Results of RDSEM analyses revealed that daily positive mood was negatively associated with daily emotional exhaustion at both within-person and between-person levels. Self-reported health was positively related to the person’s mean of daily positive mood and negatively associated with the person’s mean of daily emotional exhaustion. Self-reported health moderated the relationship between daily positive mood and daily emotional exhaustion; employees with higher self-reported health levels tend to respond with larger changes in their daily emotional exhaustion when their daily positive mood changes. These findings provide important insights for organizations aiming at their employees’ health, happiness, and job burnout.