Exploring the Nexus of Professional Commitment, Emotional Labor, and Self-Efficacy Among Community Pharmacists: Implications for Healthcare Delivery

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between emotional labor, professional commitment, and self-efficacy among community pharmacists. Specifically, this study examined how self-efficacy influences professional commitment and the mediating role of emotional labor strategies in this relationship. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 396 community pharmacists. The study used a convenience sampling method and included standardized measures of emotional labor, professional commitment, and self-efficacy. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the levels of these variables among the participants. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the interdependencies and mediating effects of emotional labor strategies. Results: General self-efficacy was positively correlated with emotional commitment (β=0.275, p<0.05) and continuance commitment (β=0.364, p<0.05), explaining 5% and 8% of their variances, respectively. A normative commitment was influenced by self-efficacy (β=0.464, p<0.05) and deep emotional labor (β=0.134, p<0.05), explaining 11% of its variance. Self-efficacy and deep emotional labor positively affected overall professional commitment (β=0.368, p<0.05), accounting for 15% of the variance. Conclusion: The results highlight the crucial role of self-efficacy in managing the emotional demands of the pharmacy profession and in fostering stronger professional commitment. Enhancing pharmacists’ self-efficacy and emotional management skills can improve their job satisfaction and commitment to the profession. These findings have clinical implications for the development of training interventions aimed at supporting pharmacists in coping with the emotional aspects of their work and improving their overall professional well-being. © 2025 The Author.