Forced cheerfulness a hazard to your health

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

Study shows that forced cheerfulness is hazardous to your health

PEOPLE who smile a lot and say "have a nice day" are headed to an early grave while the grumpy stay fit.

Researchers at a German university - a land where surliness is an Olympic discipline -say enforced jolliness on the job is much more likely to make people fall ill.

They cite flight attendants, sales personnel, call centre operators, waiters and others in contact with the public for extended periods of time as being at risk of seriously harming their health.

Psychologists at Frankfurt University said the fake friendliness led to depression, stress and a lowering of the immune system itself, which in turn can trigger more serious ailments.

"Every time a person is forced to repress his true feelings there are negative consequences for his health," said Professor Dieter Zapf, a researcher into human emotions.

The study tested students working in an imaginary call centre who were subject to abuse from clients.

Some of the participants were allowed to answer back, while others had to be polite and friendly all the time.

Those who stood up to clients had a rapid heartbeat for a brief period, but for those who had to remain friendly their heart was still racing long after the client had hung up.

The conclusion reached by the psychologists was that "being friendly against one's will causes nothing but stress".

Flight attendants, shop assistants and carers also took part in the study of emotional behaviour, which involved 4000 people, Professor Zapf said.

"We are all able to rein in our emotions," he said. "It becomes difficult when you have to do this over a protracted period as cabin attendants are forced to on long-haul flights.

"These people need space away from the passengers where they can be on their own and let their feelings run free. We have to get away from the 'customer is king' attitude and show more respect to those working in the service industries," Professor Zapf said.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

That's why I like to go to the nurses lounge or to this website to vent. It's hard to keep it in sometimes.

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

I hate with a passion anyone that walks up to me and says "SMILE"!!!! That is so rude. I could be deep in thought and some idiot says "SMILE".

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

I would think the long term ramifications of routinely "letting them have it" would be detrimental to personal happiness too.

I do agree that we need some personal time to think our own less than pleasant thoughts, and someone to vent with.

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Specializes in ICU, Pediatric, Psychiatric, Med/Surg.

If a person is having to pretend to be kind or considerate, then it is time for a job change.

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Specializes in ICU, Pediatric, Psychiatric, Med/Surg.

Oh-and Venting to a person who is supportive is a good thing, it is common and normal (and sooooo therapeutic as far as I am concerned).

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
If a person is having to pretend to be kind or considerate, then it is time for a job change.

I don't think that was the point. The point was that it's very frustrating and could be harmful when you constantly have to put up with everyone else's cr*p with a smile. Maybe some assertiveness training could be useful - to learn how to deal with very obnoxious people without either being a doormat or blowing your top.

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hey tweety, im falling out of the chair here...lol...that was good, and i agree!:lol2:

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Decent article.

Spoiled only by the presence of this needless sentence:

German university - a land where surliness is an Olympic discipline
A silly stereotype if I ever saw one :rolleyes:
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That's why I like to go to the nurses lounge or to this website to vent. It's hard to keep it in sometimes.

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

I hate with a passion anyone that walks up to me and says "SMILE"!!!! That is so rude. I could be deep in thought and some idiot says "SMILE".

Hi Tweety,

I totally agree with you. When someone walks by and says "Smile"!!! I also find this annoying. I am usually a pleasant person by nature and these people usually catch me while I am focusing on solving a problem. I usually reply, "If we all walked around with smiles plastered on our faces 24/7 we would look like simpletons." This is a huge pet peeve of mine.

Nurse wannabee

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This is TRULY one of my biggest pet peeves in the field of nursing. The ones who say "smile" are almost ALWAYS men and they would never think to say "smile" to a male Dr. or any other peer in their profession.

I have had patients come up to me while I am monitoring 8-10 relatively high risk cardiac patients (cardiac rehabilitation) while they are exercising (one in and out of bigeminy, one with an EF of 20%...you get the picture) and say "smile ! What is wrong that you aren't smiling ???"

Umm, excuse me while I actually use my BRAIN to think and process and create a safe environment for these people. I do NOT need to look like a freaking Barbie Doll every day to convey the message that I am nice.

Don't get me wrong, I am (most of the time) a pleasant, engaging and caring person, but there are times when I just don't feel like plastering on a smile.

I have been known to discuss this in-depth with the "smilee" more than once and have asked them "WHY must I smile when I am monitoring your fellow heart patients ???" :devil:

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I think the article was focused on forced cheerfulness, even in the face of rudeness and lack of respect. right now our facility is big on this customer service and "taking accountability" for that which we are not responsible for. It is very frustrating. Basically we are being told to be the cheerful scapegoats for all that the patient and/or their family is unhappy about. I agree that the customer is king attitude needs to go and people should have more respect to those providing a service.

People also need a safe place to vent, especially when they work in areas of high stress without being judged.

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So just do like the other nurses and be nasty to each other? j/k well sorta..I hate it when some guy tells you to smile, dude if iwante to smile i would be smiling!

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