Study Finds Faking Smiles at Work Can Lead to Heavier Drinking After Work

For many workers, smiling is simply part of the job. From restaurant employees and retail workers to nurses, teachers, and customer service representatives, millions of people are expected to appear cheerful and positive throughout the workday.

But according to researchers from Penn State University and the University at Buffalo, constantly forcing positive emotions or suppressing negative ones may have an unexpected downside: heavier drinking after work.

The Pressure to Stay Positive

Many customer-facing jobs require employees to maintain a friendly attitude regardless of how they actually feel. Workers may be expected to smile at customers, remain calm during stressful situations, and hide feelings of frustration or annoyance.

Psychologists call this behavior “surface acting” — displaying emotions that do not reflect genuine feelings.

While surface acting can improve customer experiences and professional interactions, researchers say it can also be mentally exhausting.

What the Study Found

The research team examined data from 1,592 American workers who regularly interact with the public. Participants included employees from food service, healthcare, education, retail, and customer support industries.

The researchers discovered that workers who frequently faked positive emotions or suppressed negative emotions were more likely to drink larger amounts of alcohol after work.

According to Alicia Grandey, a psychology professor at Penn State and one of the study’s lead researchers, the findings suggest that emotional regulation itself may contribute to unhealthy drinking habits.

“Faking and suppressing emotions with customers was related to drinking beyond the stress of the job or feeling negatively,” Grandey explained.

In other words, it wasn’t simply feeling stressed that led workers to drink more. The act of constantly controlling emotions throughout the day appeared to play an important role.

Why Emotional Labor Can Be Draining

Researchers believe that constantly monitoring and controlling emotions requires significant self-control.

Employees may spend hours suppressing irritation, disappointment, frustration, or anger while simultaneously displaying friendliness and enthusiasm.

Over time, this emotional effort can become exhausting.

Grandey suggested that workers who spend the entire day regulating emotions may have fewer mental resources available later to regulate behaviors such as alcohol consumption.

“Smiling as part of your job sounds like a really positive thing, but doing it all day can be draining,” she said.

The Role of Self-Control

The study found that personality traits influenced the strength of the relationship between surface acting and alcohol use.

Workers who described themselves as highly impulsive showed a stronger connection between emotional suppression and drinking after work.

Researchers believe impulsive individuals may have a harder time controlling emotions throughout the day and limiting alcohol intake afterward.

The study also found that employees with less autonomy at work experienced stronger effects.

Workers who constantly follow strict instructions and have little control over how they perform their jobs may face additional emotional strain.

Some Jobs Are More Vulnerable

Interestingly, the relationship between surface acting and drinking appeared strongest among employees who have brief interactions with customers, such as workers in coffee shops, restaurants, retail stores, and call centers.

These positions are often filled by younger workers and employees in entry-level roles.

Researchers suggest that these jobs may offer fewer emotional rewards compared to professions such as nursing or teaching, where workers often build meaningful long-term relationships.

For example, nurses may regulate their emotions to comfort patients and improve care. Because their emotional effort serves a meaningful purpose, the negative effects may be reduced.

What Employers Can Learn

The findings suggest that organizations may benefit from rethinking strict “service with a smile” expectations.

Researchers recommend giving employees more flexibility, autonomy, and control over how they perform their work.

Allowing workers to make decisions, express themselves more naturally, and build meaningful workplace relationships may help reduce emotional exhaustion.

When emotional effort is connected to genuine rewards — whether financial, social, or relational — employees may experience fewer negative consequences.

Final Thoughts

The study highlights an often-overlooked aspect of modern work: emotional labor.

While smiling and maintaining a positive attitude may seem harmless, constantly hiding true emotions can take a psychological toll.

Researchers emphasize that creating healthier work environments where employees feel supported, valued, and authentic may not only improve job satisfaction but also reduce unhealthy coping behaviors outside the workplace.

As workplaces continue to evolve, understanding the hidden costs of emotional labor may become increasingly important for both employees and employers.