Conceptualizing and Measuring Emotional Saturation: A Qualitative Content Analysis Approach

Abstract

The theory of saturation has recently emerged as a meta-framework for understanding how excessive input across cognitive, social, and emotional domains can lead to diminished functioning. By applying this theoretical lens, researchers are provided with new insights into how individuals process, manage, and respond to increasing levels of stimuli in complex environments. While prior research has examined related phenomena such as cognitive overload and emotional exhaustion, the construct of emotional saturation remains insufficiently explored and lacks a clear conceptual foundation. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to explore and define the dimensions of emotional saturation within organizational contexts.

Adopting an exploratory qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six experts in organizational behavior and psychology. The data were analyzed using content analysis, allowing key themes to emerge inductively from expert insights. The findings reveal that emotional saturation is a multidimensional construct consisting of four core dimensions: Affective Overload, Emotional Attenuation, Cognitive Disruption, and Regulatory Breakdown. Affective Overload captures the accumulation of intense emotional demands; Emotional Attenuation reflects reduced emotional responsiveness; Cognitive Disruption highlights the interference of emotions with cognitive processes; and Regulatory Breakdown represents the failure of emotional self-regulation under excessive strain.

These findings contribute to the literature by demonstrating how the application of the theory of saturation can enhance understanding of emotional processes in organizational settings. By identifying the core dimensions of emotional saturation, this study provides a foundational framework for future scale development and empirical validation. Furthermore, it opens new avenues for research in emotional intelligence, organizational behavior, and psychological well-being by offering a novel perspective on how individuals experience and manage emotional demands in contemporary workplaces.