scholarly journals Towards happiness: Experiences of work-role fit, meaningfulness and work engagement of industrial/organisational psychologists in South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Llewellyn E. Van Zyl ◽  
Elmari Deacon ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Work Role ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Meaning Of Work ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Psychological Meaningfulness ◽  
The Relationship

Orientation: The work of industrial/organisational (I/O) psychologists presents an interesting and relevant context for studying meaning and engagement as components of happiness.Research purpose: The aim of this study was to determine how I/O psychologists experience the meaning of their work and to investigate the relationships between their experiences of work-role fit, meaning of work, psychological meaningfulness and work engagement, utilising the happiness framework proposed by Seligman (2002).Motivation for the study: I/O psychologists spend more than 88% of their working day with people, and they are primary role models for happiness in the workplace. Information about their work engagement and experiences of meaning is therefore needed.Research design, approach and method: A survey design was used. A convenience sample (n = 106) was taken of I/O psychologists in South Africa. A biographical questionnaire, the Work-Role Fit Scale, the Work-Life Questionnaire, the Psychological Meaningfulness Scale, the Work Engagement Scale and a survey measuring the actual and desired time spent on six broad categories of work were administered.Main findings: Work-role fit predicted psychological meaningfulness and work engagement. The calling orientation to work predicted both psychological meaningfulness and work engagement. Work-role fit mediated the relationship between the meaning of work and psychological meaningfulness. Work-role fit partially mediated the relationship between a calling orientation to work and work engagement.Practical implications: A calling orientation to work should be fostered in I/O psychologists because it contributes to experiences of work-role fit, psychological meaningfulness and work engagement.Contribution/value-add: The results of this study contribute to scientific knowledge about work-role fit, engagement and meaning as components of happiness of I/O psychologists.

scholarly journals Factors associated with employee engagement in South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan Rothmann ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann Jr
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Work Role ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Organisational Support ◽  
Psychological Meaningfulness ◽  
Engagement Scale

Orientation: Knowledge of the factors associated with employee engagement is important for practitioners and researchers in industrial/organisational psychology in South Africa.Research purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with employee engagement using two models, namely the personal engagement model of Kahn (1990), and the work engagement model of Schaufeli and Bakker (2004).Motivation for the study: Scientific knowledge is needed regarding the factors that are associated with employee engagement.Research design, approach and method: Survey designs were used with two samples taken from various South African organisations (n = 467 and n = 3775). The Work Engagement Scale, the Psychological Conditions Scale and the Antecedents Scale were administered for purposes of study 1. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the Job Demands-Resources Scale were administered for purposes of study 2.Main findings: The results of study 1 showed that two psychological conditions, namely psychological meaningfulness and psychological availability, were positively associated with employee engagement. Work role fit was the best predictor of psychological meaningfulness and employee engagement. The results of study 2 showed that all job resources were positively associated with employee engagement. Organisational support and growth opportunities were the best predictors of vigour, dedication and absorption.Pratical/managerial implications: Interventions to increase employee engagement should focus on work role fit. Job resources, including an intrinsically rewarding job, organisational support and advancement opportunities should be made available to increase employees’ engagement.Contribution/value-add: This study isolated the most important factors associated with employee engagement in South Africa.

scholarly journals The relationship between leadership behaviour, outcomes of leadership and emotional intelligence

2005 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Coetzee ◽  
P Schaap
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Leadership Behaviour ◽  
Multifactor Leadership ◽  
Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Outcomes Of Leadership

The aim of the study was to explore relationship between leadership behaviour, the outcomes of leadership and the emotional intelligence of managers. The “Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale�? and the "Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire" were applied to a convenience sample of 100 managers working for various companies in South Africa. The study yielded significant correlations between managers’ level of emotional intelligence, leadership behaviour and the outcomes of leadership. Opsomming Die doel van die studie was om die verband tussen die leierskapsgedrag, uitkoms van leierskap en die emosionele intelligensie van bestuurders te ondersoek. Die “Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale�? en die “Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire�? is op ’n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 100 bestuurders wat in verskeie organisasies in Suid-Afrika werksaam is, toegepas. Die resultate dui op ’n beduidende korrelasie tussen die vlak van emosionele intelligensie, leierskapsgedrag en die uitkoms van leierskap van bestuurders.

scholarly journals Factors associated with depression and the relationship to quality of life among Saudi women with breast cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Monefah Al-Shammari ◽  
Amani Khalil
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Primary Therapy ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Saudi Women ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Eortc Qlq ◽  
The Relationship

Background and objective: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide, diagnosis and treatment and the months following primary therapy associated with different psychological symptoms that affect quality of life (QoL) in most women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between depression and quality of life QoL among Saudi women with breast cancer.Methods: Design: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Methods: A convenience sample of 370 women with breast cancer was recruited from the out-clinic in King Faisal Specialist Hospital \& Research Center (KFSH&RC). Data were collected using self-report tools derived from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress-Depression-Short Form; the EORTC quality of life questionnaire (QLQ) (EORTC QLQ-C30, v.3.0 and EORTC QLQ-BR23); and from the Demographic and Clinical Data Sheet.Results: The correlation between depression and global health status with functioning subscales for the women was negative (Pearson’s r = -.357, p < .001; r = -.368, p < .001); whereas a positive correlation was found between depression and symptom subscales, together with its items.Conclusions: This study shows that depression is associated with QoL among Saudi women diagnosed with breast cancer. Therefore, depression affects upon QoL among the breast cancer population. However, enhancement of mental health statuses and psychological interventions helps to reduce the severity of depression and improves health related QoL among this population.

scholarly journals The effects of job crafting on subjective well-being amongst South African high school teachers

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Peral ◽  
Madelyn Geldenhuys
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
South African ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Job Crafting ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Psychological Meaningfulness ◽  
The Relationship

Orientation: Job crafting can result in a number of positive outcomes for teachers, such as increased meaningfulness and engagement at work. Increased work engagement and psychological meaningfulness may yield positive benefits for the practice of teaching, thus highlighting the pivotal role of job crafting.Research purpose: The study’s aim was to investigate the relationship between job crafting and subjective well-being amongst South African high school teachers. Subjective well-being comprises psychological meaningfulness and work engagement. The potential mediating effect that psychological meaningfulness had on this relationship was further explored.Motivation for the study: Being in a highly stressful occupation, teachers need to continuously find ways to craft their working practices in order to deal effectively with their job demands and to capitalise on their available job resources. Furthermore, South Africa’s current education system calls for serious proactive measures to be taken to improve and rectify the current status, such as job crafting.Research approach, design and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used and administered to a sample of South African high school teachers situated in Gauteng, South Africa (N = 251).Main findings: A positive relationship was found between job crafting (increasing structural resources and challenging job demands) and work engagement. Furthermore, psychological meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job crafting and work engagement amongst the sampled high school teachers.Practical/managerial implications: Teachers who craft their work to better suit their preferences and needs will obtain greater meaning in their work and experience increased levels of work engagement. Training programmes and/or group-based interventions targeted around job crafting techniques may be particularly useful in the South African teaching context.Contribution/value-add: This study highlights the importance of job crafting to the well-being of teachers. It further contributes to the literature pertaining to job crafting and teaching specifically, as well as to the limited job crafting research that has been conducted in the South African context.

scholarly journals Antecedents and outcomes of meaningful work among school teachers

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmari Fouché ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann ◽  
Corne Van der Vyver
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Turnover Intention ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Intention To Leave ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Job Design ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample

Orientation: Quality education is dependent on the well-being, engagement, performance and retention of teachers. Meaningful work might affect these employee and organisational outcomes.Research purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate antecedents and outcomes of meaningful work among school teachers.Motivation for the study: Meaningful work underpins people’s motivation and affects their well-being and job satisfaction. Furthermore, it is a significant pathway to healthy and authentic organisations. However, a research gap exists regarding the effects of different antecedents and outcomes of meaningful work.Research approach, design and method: A cross-sectional survey was used with a convenience sample of 513 teachers. The Work-Life Questionnaire, Revised Job Diagnostic Survey, Co-worker Relations Scale, Work and Meaning Inventory, Personal Resources Scale, Work Engagement Scale, Turnover Intention Scale and a measure of self-rated performance were administered.Main findings: A calling orientation, job design and co-worker relations were associated with meaningful work. A low calling orientation and poor co-worker relationships predicted burnout. A calling orientation, a well-designed job, good co-worker relationships and meaningful work predicted work engagement. Job design was moderately associated with self-ratings of performance. The absence of a calling orientation predicted teachers’ intention to leave the organisation.Practical/managerial implications: Educational managers should consider implementing interventions to affect teachers’ calling orientation (through job crafting), perceptions of the nature of their jobs (by allowing autonomy) and co-worker relations (through teambuilding) to promote perceptions of meaningful work. Promoting perceptions of meaningful work might contribute to lower burnout, higher work engagement, better self-ratings of performance and retention of teachers.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to scientific knowledge regarding the effects of three antecedents, namely a calling orientation, job design and co-worker relationships on meaningful work. It also contributed to knowledge about the effects of meaningful work on employee and organisational outcomes.

scholarly journals Incremental validity of work-related sense of coherence in predicting work wellness

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanet C. Van der Westhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Incremental Validity ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Context Specific

Orientation: Sense of coherence and, more recently, work-related sense of coherence are regarded as significant variables in promoting the management of employees’ wellness in modern organisations. Research purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether work-related sense of coherence, as a context-specific application of sense of coherence, provides incremental validity over and above sense of coherence in explaining indicators of work wellness. Motivation for the study: It is important to know if the context-specific, work-related sense of coherence is a better predictor of work wellness in comparison with general sense of coherence in order to guide interventions aimed at the development and enhancement of employees’ wellness. Research approach, design and method: A cross-sectional survey design was used with a convenience sample (N = 734) of part-time and full-time working adults completing an online module at a distance education institution. A biographical questionnaire, the Work-related sense of coherence (SoC) Questionnaire, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, the Fatigue Scale and Work Engagement Scale were administered. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to achieve the objective of the study. Main findings: Work-related sense of coherence displayed incremental validity over and above that of sense of coherence in predicting work engagement and fatigue. However, sense of coherence was a stronger predictor of fatigue, while work-related sense of coherence was a stronger predictor of work engagement. Practical managerial implications: In planning interventions to address the work engagement or fatigue of employees, work-related sense of coherence could be used as a practical indicator of coherent work experiences, especially in predicting work engagement. Contribution: The results of the study should provide new insight into the shared variance between work-related sense of coherence and sense of coherence. The results indicated that the factors are interrelated but independent and that work-related sense of coherence adds incremental variance in predicting work engagement and fatigue in the context of work.

scholarly journals Occupational stress, sense of coherence, coping, burnout and work engagement of registered nurses in South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna J. Van der Colff ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Registered Nurses ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the occupational stress, sense of coherence, coping, burnout and work engagement of registered nurses in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population consisted of 818 registered nurses. The Nursing Stress Inventory, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, the COPE, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were administered. The results show that the experience of depletion of emotional resources and feelings of depersonalisation by registered nurses were associated with stress due to job demands and a lack of organisational support, focus on and ventilation of emotions as a coping strategy, and a weak sense of coherence. Work engagement was predicted by a strong sense of coherence and approach-coping strategies.

scholarly journals Organisational commitment, work engagement and meaning of work of nursing staff in hospitals

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilka Beukes ◽  
Elrie Botha
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Meaning Of Work ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Managerial Implications

Orientation: Nursing is a noble profession but not always an easy job. Work overload, few resources, limited promotion and development opportunities have a negative impact on the sustainability of the profession.Research purpose: The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between organisational commitment, work engagement and meaning of work amongst nursing staff at various hospitals.Motivation for study: It is important to understand how to optimise the work experience of nursing staff in order to ensure a committed and engaged workforce.Research design, approach and method: A survey design with a cluster sample (n = 199) was used. The Organisational Commitment Questionnaire, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Work-Life Questionnaire and a biographical questionnaire were administered.Main findings: The majority of the scales showed acceptable reliability. Results indicated that the majority of nursing staff view their work as either a job or a calling. This impacts the organisation in the sense that viewing work as a calling predicts 19% of the variance in organisational commitment and 30% of the variance in work engagement. Practical/managerial implications: Viewing work as a calling will accompany higher levels of engagement and commitment to the organisation. Nurses who feel that they make a meaningful contribution to the hospital are more inclined to stay in the organisation.Contribution/value-add: Strategies can be put in place to focus on experiencing work as a calling, rather than a job. Enhancing this experience and creating awareness could lead to higher levels of organisational commitment and work engagement.

scholarly journals Psychological meaningfulness at work as a mediator of job characteristic and job attachment in public elementary schools in Yogyakarta

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Welly Putri Akmadelita ◽  
Erika Setyanti Kusumaputri
Keyword(s):  
Path Analysis ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Job Characteristics ◽  
Primary School Teacher ◽  
Psychological Meaningfulness ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Task Significance

This study aims to determine the relationship between job characteristics toward work engagement through the mediating psychological meaningfulness. Subjects in this study were a primary school teacher in Yogyakarta who totaled 132 (N=132) of teachers. Our data was collected using the work engagement scale (vigor, dedication, and absorption), job characteristics scale (skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback), and psychological meaningfulness scale (meaningful work, others around the work environment, the work context, and spiritual life) — the methods of data analysis used path analysis techniques developed from regression analysis. Results of path analysis indicated that indirect effect was significant (p2 0.332 x 0.332 = 0.110) and the direct effect of 0511. Therefore, the total effect of the work engagement is direct and indirect effect that is 0.511 + 0.110 = 0.621 (62.1%). This means that hypotheses were accepted, there is a correlation between job characteristics toward work engagement through psychological meaningfulness as a mediator, where the suitability of job characteristics will improve work engagement through psychological meaningfulness as a mediator, where the suitability of job characteristics will improve work engagement through psychological meaningfulness that also higher on the teacher.

scholarly journals Location decision strategies for improving SMME business performance

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shereen Barnard ◽  
Barendien Kritzinger ◽  
Janine Krüger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Location Decisions ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the macro-environmental factors that may influence location decisions and how these choices may affect the business performance of SMMEs. Problem investigated: SMMEs in South Africa play an increasingly important role in stimulating economic activity, growth and employment creation. However, many SMMEs cease to exist within the first five years of operation due to various challenges faced by SMMEs on a daily basis. Many SMMEs owners disregard the importance of location, yet the geographical location can negatively influence the survival of the business. Several factors influence the choice of the location, which will ultimately have either a positive or negative effect on business performance. Methodology: A positivistic research methodology was adopted for this study. Seven hypotheses were constructed to achieve the primary objective of this study. The population for this study consisted of SMMEs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole from which a convenience sample of 175 SMMEs was selected. The measuring instrument, a self-developed questionnaire, consisted of three sections. The data collected included the demographical data of the respondents and their businesses, statements on location and various factors influencing location decisions as well as measurements of business performance. Cronbach Alpha coefficients were calculated to determine the reliability of the questionnaire items. Data analysis was done by calculating descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and conducting a simple linear regression analysis. Cohen's d was used to determine the significance of between-factor differences. Findings and implications: The results of the study showed that positive relationships existed between all the independent variables (location, rental rates, employment, inflation, interest rates and green buildings) and the dependent variable (business performance) except for the relationship between electricity tariffs and business performance. Employment and business performance attained the strongest positive relationship; indicating that business owners regarded employment as an important factor to consider when searching for suitable business premises. The relationship between location and business performance obtained the lowest positive correlation. Originality and value of the research: Research on South African SMMEs regarding location decisions and the specific factors identified in this study has not been done previously in South Africa. Therefore, because evidence exists that the macro-environmental factors influence location decisions to varying degrees, this study can provide SMME owners with insight into the factors influencing location choice. It is vital that business owners consider these factors as they could influence business performance, and ultimately, business survival. An increased awareness of the importance of the aspects discussed in this study could consequently lead to improved performance in the SMME sector.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document