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This is a Cross-Sectional Study study.

October 17, 2025Open Access

Emotion‐Focused Human Resource Management and Compassionate Care Behavior: Integrating Emotion Regulation Theory With Public Service Motivation Theory

XJXiaodong JiBeijing Forestry University FWFei WangBeijing University of Posts and Telecommunications YHYing HanWenzhou Medical University

Key Points

Emotion-focused HR management significantly enhances compassionate care behavior among nurses.
With a p-value < 0.05, positive effects on nurses' empathetic actions were noted across 272 participants.
A structural equation modeling approach was applied to examine emotional labor's mediation in this relationship.
Findings suggest that supportive HR practices create emotional climates essential for delivering quality patient care.

Abstract

Aim To examine the impact of emotion‐focused human resource management (EFHRM) on compassionate care behavior (CCB) among nursing staff, and to explore the mediating role of emotional labor and the moderating effect of public service motivation. Background CCB—nurses’ empathetic and patient‐centered actions that meet patients’ emotional and physical needs—is essential for high‐quality nursing care. However, its organizational antecedents remain underexplored. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 272 nurses in hospital settings. EFHRM was assessed as a set of HR practices aimed at recognizing, supporting, and regulating employees’ emotional needs and interpersonal sensitivities. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Results EFHRM has a significant and positive effect on nurses’ CCB. Emotional labor partially mediated this relationship, indicating that HR practices addressing emotional needs enhance CCB by promoting emotionally engaged work. Moreover, public service motivation significantly moderated the mediation effect: nurses with higher levels of public service motivation were more likely to translate emotional labor into CCB. These results underscore both the psychological mechanisms and contextual factors that influence compassionate care delivery. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of EFHRM practices that are sensitive to the emotional dynamics of caregiving. EFHRM not only facilitates the emotional conditions necessary for CCB but also interacts with intrinsic motivational traits to enhance care quality. Understanding these processes offers valuable insights for healthcare organizations aiming to promote sustained, patient‐centered care. Implications for Nursing Management Organizations should adopt EFHRM strategies to create supportive emotional climates and cultivate compassionate care. Attention to both emotional labor and public service motivation can strengthen workforce resilience and patient outcomes in demanding care environments.

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