Top

Journal of Happiness Studies

Published in:

10-02-2018 | Research Paper

Finding Meaning at Work: The Role of Inspiring and Funny YouTube Videos on Work-Related Well-Being

Authors: Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles, Diana Rieger, Winston Connor III

Published in: Journal of Happiness Studies | Issue 2/2019

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

Watching online videos on social media is a common activity in today’s digital age, but its’ impact on employee well-being at work has not been investigated yet. The current study tried to fill this gap by investigating the role hedonic and eudaimonic online videos play on employee’s stress levels and well-being at work. An online experiment with 200 full time employees in the US was conducted exploring the role of inspiring affect and positive affect on three distinct well-being outcomes: subjective well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being at the workplace. A path model suggests unique effects for inspiring videos on indicators of subjective (vitality), psychological (meaning at work) and social (relatedness at work) well-being. In addition, appreciating the good things in life mediated the relationship between inspiring affect and meaning and relatedness at work. Furthermore, employees generally felt less stressed after watching any type of online video (including a non-entertaining control video), but felt the highest energy surge after watching an elevating video. Implications about the role of online videos for employees’ well-being are discussed.

previous article How Psychological Capital Mediates Between Study–Related Positive Emotions and Academic Performance

next article Capturing Affective Well-Being in Daily Life with the Day Reconstruction Method: A Refined View on Positive and Negative Affect

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Available only for authorised users

Videos that potentially could elicit awe were included in the pretest. However, the results indicated that none of the videos elicited strong feelings of awe, nor did they differ from the other emotions, which is why we don’t refer to this measure further in the pre-test description.

Please note that we will discuss this conceptual overlap between gratitude and elevation in the discussion because we believe that it has important theoretical implications.

Adler, M. G., & Fagley, N. S. (2005). Appreciation: Individual differences in finding value and meaning as a unique predictor of subjective well-being. Journal of Personality, 73(1), 79–114.CrossRef

Algoe, S. B., & Haidt, J. (2009). Witnessing excellence in action: The ‘other-praising’ emotions of elevation, gratitude, and admiration. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(2), 105–127.CrossRef

Anderson, M. (2015, February 12). 5 facts about online video, for YouTube’s 10th birthday. Retrieved July 11 from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/12/5-facts-about-online-video-for-youtubes-10th-birthday/.

APA Report (n.d.). American Psychological Association. Stress in America. Paying with our health. Retrieved March, 2016 from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2014/stress-report.pdf.

Arnold, K. A., Turner, N., Barling, J., Kelloway, E. K., & McKee, M. C. (2007). Transformational leadership and psychological well-being: The mediating role of meaningful work. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 12, 193–203. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.12.3.193.CrossRef

Baard, P. P., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2004). Intrinsic need satisfaction: A motivational basis of performance and well-being in two work settings. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34(10), 2045–2068.CrossRef

Bartlett, M. Y., & DeSteno, D. (2006). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: Helping when it costs you. Psychological Science, 17, 319–325.CrossRef

Carver, C. S., & White, T. L. (1994). Behavioral inhibition, behavioral activation, and affective responses to impending reward and punishment: The BIS/BAS Scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(2), 319.CrossRef

Chancellor, J., Layous, K., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2015). Recalling positive events at work makes employees feel happier, move more, but interact less: A 6-week randomized controlled intervention at a Japanese workplace. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(4), 871–887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9538-z.CrossRef

Coker, B. L. (2011). Freedom to surf: The positive effects of workplace internet leisure browsing. New Technology, Work and Employment, 26(3), 238–247.CrossRef

Conrad, A., Mueller, A., Doberenz, S., Kim, S., Meuret, A. E., Wolburg, E., et al. (2007). Psychophysiological effects of breathing instructions for stress management. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 32(2), 89–98.CrossRef

D’Abate, C. P., & Eddy, E. R. (2007). Engaging in personal business on the job: Extending the presenteeism construct. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 18(3), 361–383.CrossRef

Dale, K., Raney, A. A., Janicke, S. H., Sanders, M., & Oliver, M. B. (2017). Youtube for good: A content analysis and examination of elicitors of self-transcendent media. Journal of Communication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12333.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (Eds.). (2002). Handbook of self-determination research. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press.

Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.CrossRef

Diessner, R., Iyer, R., Smith, M. M., & Haidt, J. (2013). Who engages with moral beauty? Journal of Moral Education, 42(2), 139–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2013.78594.CrossRef

Eastin, M. S., Glynn, C. J., & Griffiths, R. P. (2007). Psychology of communication technology use in the workplace. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(3), 436–443.CrossRef

Ellithorpe, M. E., Ewoldsen, D. R., & Oliver, M. B. (2015). Elevation (sometimes) increases altruism: Choice and number of outcomes in elevating media effects. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 4(3), 236–250. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000023.CrossRef

Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377.CrossRef

Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A.-G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 175–191.CrossRef

Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56, 218–226.CrossRef

Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). Gratitude, like other positive emotions, broadens and builds. In R. A. Emmons & M. E. McCullough (Eds.), The psychology of gratitude (pp. 145–166). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045–1062. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013262.CrossRef

Freeman, D., Aquino, K., & McFerran, B. (2009). Overcoming beneficiary race as an impediment to charitable donation: Social dominance orientation, the experience of moral elevation, and donation behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 72–84.CrossRef

Gall Myrick, J. (2015). Emotion regulation, procrastination, and watching cat videos online: Who watches Internet cats, why and to what effect? Computers in Human Behavior, 52, 168–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.06.001.CrossRef

Gallagher, M. W., Lopez, S. J., & Preacher, K. J. (2009). The hierarchical structure of well-being. Journal of Personality, 77(4), 1025–1050.CrossRef

Garrett, R. K., & Danziger, J. N. (2008a). Disaffection or expected outcomes: Understanding personal internet use during work. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(4), 937–958.CrossRef

Garrett, R. K., & Danziger, J. N. (2008b). On cyberslacking: Workplace status and personal internet use at work. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(3), 287–292.CrossRef

Green, M. A., Brock, T. C., & Kaufman, G. F. (2004). Understanding media enjoyment: The role of transportation into narrative worlds. Communication Theory, 14(4), 311–327. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2004.tb00317.x.CrossRef

Greenfield, D. N., & Davis, R. A. (2002). Lost in cyberspace: The web@ work. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 5(4), 347–353.CrossRef

Haidt, J. (2003). Elevation and the positive psychology of morality. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 275–289). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRef

Haidt, J., & Morris, J. P. (2009). Finding the self in self-transcendent emotions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106, 7687–7688.CrossRef

Hu, L.-T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.CrossRef

Huta, V., & Ryan, R. M. (2010). Pursuing pleasure or virtue: The differential and overlapping well-being benefits of hedonic and eudaimonic motives. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11(6), 735–762. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9171-4.CrossRef

Janicke, S. H., & Oliver, M. B. (2017). The relationship between elevation, connectedness and compassionate love in meaningful films. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 6(3), 274–289. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000105.CrossRef

Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-2.CrossRef

Kaplan, S., & Berman, M. G. (2010). Directed attention as a common resource for executive functioning and self-regulation. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(1), 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691609356784.CrossRef

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.CrossRef

Keyes, C. L. M. (1998). Social well-being. Social Psychology Quarterly, 61, 121–140.CrossRef

Lambert, N. M., Graham, S. M., Fincham, F. D., & Stillman, T. F. (2009). A changed perspective: How gratitude can affect sense of coherence through positive reframing. Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 461–470.CrossRef

Lanham, M. E., Rye, M. S., Rimsky, L. S., & Weill, S. R. (2012). How gratitude relates to burnout and job satisfaction in mental health professionals. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(4), 341–354.CrossRef

Lim, V. K., & Chen, D. J. (2012). Cyberloafing at the workplace: Gain or drain on work? Behaviour & Information Technology, 31(4), 343–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/01449290903353054.CrossRef

Mastrangelo, P. M., Everton, W., & Jolton, J. A. (2006). Personal use of work computers: Distraction versus destruction. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(6), 730–741.CrossRef

McCullough, M. E., Tsang, J., & Emmons, R. A. (2004). Gratitude in intermediate affective terrain: Links of grateful moods to individual differences and daily emotional experience. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(2), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.86.2.295.CrossRef

Morris, S. B., & DeShon, R. P. (2002). Combining effect size estimates in meta-analysis with repeated measures and independent-groups designs. Psychological Methods, 7, 105–125.CrossRef

Oliver, M. B., & Bartsch, A. (2011). Appreciation of entertainment. The importance of meaningfulness via virtue and wisdom. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 23, 29–33.CrossRef

Oliver, M. B., Hartmann, T., & Woolley, J. K. (2012). Elevation in response to entertainment portrayals of moral virtue. Human Communication Research, 38, 360–378.CrossRef

Oliver, M. B., & Raney, A. A. (2011). Entertainment as pleasurable and meaningful: Identifying hedonic and eudaimonic motivations for entertainment consumption. Journal of Communication, 61, 984–1004.CrossRef

Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603–619.CrossRef

Reinecke, L. (2009a). Games at work: The recreational use of computer games during working hours. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12(4), 461–465.CrossRef

Reinecke, L. (2009b). Games and recovery: The use of video and computer games to recuperate from stress and strain. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 21(3), 126–142. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105.21.3.126.CrossRef

Reinecke, L., Klatt, J., & Krämer, N. C. (2011). Entertaining media use and the satisfaction of recovery needs: Recovery outcomes associated with the use of interactive and noninteractive entertaining media. Media Psychology, 14(2), 192–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2011.573466.CrossRef

Reis, H. T., Kennon, M. S., Gable, S. L., Roscoe, J., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). Daily well-being: The role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(4), 419–435. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167200266002.CrossRef

Rieger, D., & Bente, G. (in press). Watching down cortisol levels? Effects of movie entertainment on psychophysiological recovery. Studies in Communication and Media.

Rieger, D., Frischlich, L., & Oliver, M. B. (2016, June). Self-construal and elevation—Intercultural differences in transported values through mass media content. Paper presented at the 66th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, 09.-13.06.16, Fukuoka, Japan.

Rieger, D., Reinecke, L., & Bente, G. (2017). Media induced recovery: The effects of positive versus negative media stimuli on recovery experience, cognitive performance, and energetic arousal. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 6(2), 174–191. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000075.CrossRef

Rieger, D., Reinecke, L., Frischlich, L., & Bente, G. (2014). Media entertainment and well-being—Linking hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment experience to Media-Induced recovery and vitality. Journal of Communication, 64(3), 456–478. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12097.CrossRef

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166.CrossRef

Ryan, R. M., & Frederick, C. (1997). On energy, personality, and health: Subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well-being. Journal of Personality, 65(3), 529–565.CrossRef

Ryan, R. M., Huta, V., & Deci, E. L. (2008). Living well: A self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 139–170.CrossRef

Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it: Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069–1081.CrossRef

Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701–716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164405282471.CrossRef

Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410.CrossRef

Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). Achieving sustainable gains in happiness: Change your actions, not your circumstances. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(1), 55–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-005-0868-8.CrossRef

Steger, M. F., Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Measuring meaningful work: The work and meaning inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072711436160.

Thayer, R. E. (1989). The biopsychology of mood and arousal. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Thrash, T. M., & Elliot, A. J. (2004). Inspiration: Core characteristics, component processes, antecedents, and function. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(6), 957–973. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.87.6.957.CrossRef

Vorderer, P. (2011). What’s next? Remarks on the current vitalization of entertainment theory. Journal of Media Psychology, 23, 60–63. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000034.CrossRef

Wilson, T. D., Reinhard, D. A., Westgate, E. C., Gilbert, D. T., Ellerbeck, N., Hahn, C., et al. (2014). Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind. Science, 345(6192), 75–77.CrossRef

Wirth, W., Hofer, M., & Schramm, H. (2012). Beyond pleasure: Exploring the eudaimonic entertainment experience. Human Communication Research, 38(4), 406–428. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.l468-2958.2012.01434.x.CrossRef

Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 890–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005.CrossRef

Title: Finding Meaning at Work: The Role of Inspiring and Funny YouTube Videos on Work-Related Well-Being
Authors: Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles
Diana Rieger
Winston Connor III
Publication date: 10-02-2018
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Journal of Happiness Studies / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1389-4978
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7780
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9959-1

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Other articles of this Issue 2/2019

Happiness in Bangladesh: The Role of Religion and Connectedness

How Psychological Capital Mediates Between Study–Related Positive Emotions and Academic Performance

Activation, Avoidance, and Response-Contingent Positive Reinforcement Predict Subjective Wellbeing

How’s Life at Home? New Evidence on Marriage and the Set Point for Happiness

Servant Leadership and Goal Attainment Through Meaningful Life and Vitality: A Diary Study

Harmed Trait Self-Control: Why Do People with a Higher Dispositional Malicious Envy Experience Lower Subjective Wellbeing? A Cross-Sectional Study