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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01.11.2012 | Original Article

The good character at work: an initial study on the contribution of character strengths in identifying healthy and unhealthy work-related behavior and experience patterns

verfasst von: F. Gander, R. T. Proyer, W. Ruch, T. Wyss

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 8/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Positive psychological functioning has been related to various positive work-related outcome variables, such as job satisfaction or work engagement. The aim of the present study was to examine the relations between morally positively valued traits (i.e., strengths of character) and work-related behaviors.

Method

A sample of 887 adult women completed the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) and the Work-related Behavior and Experience Patterns Questionnaire (AVEM) in an online survey.

Results

Those assigned to healthy work-related behavior and experience patterns differed in their strengths profiles from those that demonstrated unhealthy patterns (i.e., burnout type) in a predictable way. Especially the strengths of zest, persistence, hope, and curiosity seemed to play a key role in healthy and ambitious work behavior.

Conclusions

The study underlines the relevance of character strengths in work settings and suggests that interventions based on character strengths could substantiate interventions already existing at the workplace in order to enhance positive work outcomes further (e.g., work satisfaction, engagement).

The authors of the AVEM also suggest a lower threshold of 80% for a “pronounced” assignment to one of the types, which would allow for the assignment of N = 487 participants (G: n = 61; S: n = 153; A: n = 59; B: n = 214). At an even lower threshold of 50% (reflecting a tendency to one of the types), almost all participants could be assigned to one of the four types (N = 830; G: n = 115; S: n = 247; A: n = 144; B: n = 324). If the data were analyzed using any of these thresholds, the outcomes were highly similar indicating a stability of the findings even at lower levels of assignment.

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Titel: The good character at work: an initial study on the contribution of character strengths in identifying healthy and unhealthy work-related behavior and experience patterns
verfasst von: F. Gander
R. T. Proyer
W. Ruch
T. Wyss
Publikationsdatum: 01.11.2012
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 8/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0736-x

Live-Webinar: Aktuelle Leitlinien bei Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen

Springer Medizin

The good character at work: an initial study on the contribution of character strengths in identifying healthy and unhealthy work-related behavior and experience patterns

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusions

Live-Webinar: Aktuelle Leitlinien bei Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusions

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