A Test of Two Positive Psychology Interventions to Increase Employee Well-Being

Authors

Seth Kaplan, George Mason UniversityFollow
Jill C. Bradley-Geist, California State University, FresnoFollow
Afra Ahmad, George Mason UniversityFollow
Amanda Anderson, George Mason UniversityFollow
Amber K. Hargrove, George Mason University
Alex Lindsey, George Mason UniversityFollow

Abstract

Purpose: Despite an abundance of organizational research on how contextual and individual difference factors impact well-being, little research has examined whether individuals themselves can take an active role in enhancing their own well-being. The current study assessed the effectiveness of two simple, self-guided workplace interventions ("gratitude" and "social connectedness") in impacting well-being. Design/Methodology/Approach: Sixty-seven university employees participated in one of the two self-guided interventions for 2 weeks and completed self-report measures prior to the intervention, immediately following the intervention, and one-month post-intervention. Growth curve modeling was used to examine the effects of each intervention. Findings: Partially supporting hypotheses, the gratitude intervention resulted in significant increases in positive affective well-being and self-reported gratitude but not did significantly impact negative affective well-being or self-reported social connectedness. The social connectedness exercise did not significantly impact any of those four outcomes. However, both interventions related to a reduction in workplace absence due to illness. Implications: The study suggests that self-guided, positive psychology interventions (particularly gratitude) hold potential for enhancing employee well-being. Because the interventions are short, simple, and self-guided, there is little in the way of costs or drawbacks for organizations. Thus, these types of interventions seem like a potentially useful component of workplace wellness initiatives. Originality/Value: This study is one of the few to examine whether self-guided, positive psychology interventions can enhance well-being. Moreover, this is the first study to examine a social connectedness workplace intervention and the first to demonstrate effects on illness-related absence. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Publication Title

Journal of Business and Psychology

Recommended Citation

Kaplan, S., Bradley-Geist, J., Ahmad, A., Anderson, A., Hargrove, A., & Lindsey, A. (2014). A Test of Two Positive Psychology Interventions to Increase Employee Well-Being. Journal of Business and Psychology, 29 (3), 367-380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-013-9319-4