Maura J. Mills

Feeling good and doing great: The relationship between psychological capital and well-being.

This study seeks to determine the relationship between psychological capital and an employees eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. Panel data were collected from 102 extension agents over a 2-week interval. In addition, daily surveys were collected from 67 of the participants. Results from the panel data indicated that the relation between psychological capital and hedonic well-being, measured two weeks later, is mediated by eudaimonic well-being. Results from the daily surveys found that daily eudaimonic work well-being was significantly associated with both daily positive mood and daily life satisfaction and that variance in eudaimonic work well-being was predicted by ones psychological capital.

Positive psychology at work: A conceptual review, state-of-practice assessment, and a look ahead

Positive psychological principles have become increasingly prevalent in the workplace in recent years. However, the field still lacks a comprehensive and practice-based overview of this important trend. The present article focuses on reviewing recent research in positive psychology as it relates to the workplace, including research regarding constructs such as resilience, appreciative inquiry, empowerment, gratitude, psychological capital, work engagement, supervisor and organizational support, positive teamwork and co-worker relations, and positive leadership. For each, we synthesize research examining the nature of the construct itself, its nomological network, individual- and organizational-level outcomes, and how organizations can enhance each within their employees for increased organizational success and enhanced employee experience. Finally, we discuss gaps in the relevant literature and make specific recommendations regarding how to ameliorate such oversights in order to enhance the rigor of positive workplace research as well as the frequency and efficacy of relevant organizational interventions.

Work engagement and work-family facilitation: Making homes happier through positive affective spillover

Although work engagement has been shown to be associated with positive job attitudes and behaviors, no research has investigated its relationship with work-family issues. To address this, the current longitudinal, experience-sampling study aimed to determine the relationship between daily work engagement and work-to-family facilitation. A total of 52 extension agents responded to two daily surveys for two weeks. Results indicate that both work engagement and work-to-family facilitation vary considerably from day to day. Daily work engagement had a positive effect on family life. The effect of daily engagement in facilitating work-family relations was partially mediated by positive mood, and the relationship between work engagement and facilitation of work-family relations was moderated by work-family capitalization, or the sharing of positive work experiences at home. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Family-supportive supervisor behaviors, work engagement, and subjective well-being: a contextually dependent mediated process.

Grounded in a multistudy framework, we examined the relationship between family-supportive supervisor behaviors, work engagement, and subjective well-being as a contextually dependent mediated process. In Study 1 (N = 310), based on broaden-and-build and conservation of resources theories, we tested the proposed mediated process while controlling for perceived organizational support and perceived managerial effectiveness. We also demonstrated that family-supportive supervisor behaviors are distinguishable from general supervisor behaviors. In Study 2 (N = 1,640), using multigroup structural equation modeling, we validated and extended Study 1 results by examining how the mediated model varied based on 2 contextualizing constructs: (a) dependent care responsibilities and (b) availability of family-friendly benefits. Although the mediational results were contextually dependent, they were not necessarily consistent with hypothesizing based on conservation of resources theory. Practical implications are emphasized in addition to future research directions.

Family-supportive organizations and supervisors: how do they influence employee outcomes and for whom?

In the present study, we examine a model which seeks to specify the process through which work-family supportive organizations and supervisors influence important organizational outcomes, including commitment and performance. Findings indicated that family-supportive organization perceptions are best conceptualized as influencing family-supportive supervisor behaviors, which in turn influence subordinate self-efficacy, subordinate affective commitment to the organization and subordinate perceptions of supervisor work effort. Subordinate self-efficacy and affective commitment were also both found to independently mediate the relationship between family-supportive supervisor behaviors and self-rated performance. Interestingly, the model functioned similarly for employees with and without dependent care responsibilities, indicating that work-family policies and support are important for all employees, regardless of their familial status. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Relative Importance and Utility of Positive Worker States: A Review and Empirical Examination

ABSTRACT Our purpose was to identity the unique contribution, relative importance, and utility of positive worker states. Using Luthans et al.s (2007) five positive organizational behavior criteria, a variety of positive worker states were reviewed and then empirically tested to establish if they met these criteria. Data were collected from 724 restaurant employees. Positive worker states included: job involvement, perceived organizational support, engagement, and vigor. Criteria were self-reported performance, customer service, turnover intention, satisfaction, and quality of life. Our review indicated consistency between predictor adequacy of meeting the criteria and their empirical relationship with key outcomes. This research found the positive worker states to be independent constructs that had differential effects depending on the focused outcome. Regression and relative weights analyses showed involvement was a weak predictor of outcomes, while perceived organizational support was the most consistent predictor. Vigor was most useful when predicting job performance. Quality of life was poorly explained.

Assessing gender biases: Development and initial validation of the gender role stereotypes scale

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to develop and validate a new gender role stereotypes scale intended to be a short, effective, and modern measure of gender role attitudes.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 800 participants completed an online survey, with 546 completing a second survey one week later. Recommended scale development procedures were utilized throughout in order to design and test the proposed instrument.Findings – Item analyses determined a final set of most effective items, while exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the eight‐item, two‐dimensional (female stereotypes, male stereotypes) scale (Gender Role Stereotypes Scale – GRSS). Additionally, internal consistency and test‐retest reliabilities were acceptable, as was the construct‐related validity. This study also finds that gender role stereotypes are best examined as a two‐factor construct (male, female), rather than conceptualized as two poles of a unidimensional continuum.Practical implicati...

Negative implications for the inclusion of citizenship performance in ratings

Although citizenship performance has been deemed important to organizational effectiveness, potential negative consequences related to including these behaviours in assessments of performance have received far less attention. Furthermore, although numerous researchers have demonstrated that performance ratings include task and citizenship performance, none have specifically examined the potential negative implications this has for performance ratings, employees, and organizations. This article conceptually explores the implications of including citizenship performance in formal ratings of performance. Specifically, the negative implications of including citizenship performance in the formal performance appraisal process are explored in terms of the consequences for the performance rating, including inaccurate appraisals; effects on employees, including reactions to the procedure; potential organizational outcomes, including performance and competitive advantage concerns; potential international and legal considerations.

Who can have it all and how

Purpose This study aims to examine senior executives’ work–life (WL) experiences, perceptions and consequences in light of leader gender. Design/methodology/approach Multi-wave data were collected from 133 executives at a large, global technology company. Time 1 assessed need for and usage of flexibility options (flextime, telework and compressed work week), organizational support and work-to-home interference (WHI); Time 2 yielded supervisor-rated performance; and Time 3 assessed commitment. Findings Leader gender interacted with childcare and eldercare in predicting organizational support: female leaders perceived less WHI for both types of care demands. Leader gender interacted with eldercare (but not childcare) in predicting the need for flexibility: female leaders reported necessitating less flexibility for eldercare, despite males’ higher perceived interference. Leaders of both genders indicated lower interference when they perceived organizational support, and higher organizational commitment when interference was low and when their employer satisfied their flexibility needs. Hearteningly, performance reviews were not more negative for employees with flexibility needs or using flexibility policies. Practical implications This research yields important implications, including empirical justification for WL management initiatives being extended to include men as well as women, and expanded for both genders. This is particularly true for leaders, as high-level employees report especially intense workloads and unclear boundaries between domains. Originality/value As gender, work and family roles continue to evolve, research must keep pace with evaluating those trajectories in light of research and practice. This study contributes to filling the gap at that intersection, with a focus on senior executives, a unique but oft-neglected group.

Development and implementation of a multifaceted well-being intervention

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and implement an intervention to increase individuals’ hedonic well-being (HWB) and/or eudaimonic well-being (EWB) via cognitive reframing and action-based behaviors. Design/methodology/approach Time 1 and Time 2 data were collected two weeks apart from 76 participants (comprised of city employees, extension agents, and students) in an intervention group (23) and a characteristically similar control group (53). The intervention included an in-person facilitated meeting with a series of follow-up e-mails designed to focus participants on well-being improvement strategies and provide them resources for continued well-being development. Findings Intervention participants evidenced a significant increase in EWB after two weeks, particularly the personal growth dimension. No significant increase resulted for HWB. Research limitations/implications The present intervention indicates the importance of targeting well-being at a facet level, including a focus on multidimensional EWB. The intervention also serves to guide the informed development of future well-being programs. Practical implications These findings have important implications for organizations in light of increased employee desire for personal and professional growth opportunities supported by their employer. Group interventions such as the one reported herein are an important way for organizations to develop and invest in employees. Originality/value This paper traces the development of prior well-being interventions, evaluating their successes and failures and using those to guide the informed development of the present intervention. By utilizing both in-person and follow-up components, and incorporating both hedonic and multidimensional eudaimonic components, the proposed intervention serves as an important step toward a feasible organizational intervention that can benefit many.