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Paying gratitude forward at work: How work-specific gratitude can affect burnout through interpersonal helping behavior
Kersten,Amber van Woerkom,Marianne Kooij,Dorien Bauwens,Robin
Kersten,Amber
van Woerkom,Marianne
Kooij,Dorien
Bauwens,Robin
Abstract
Since workers are increasingly suffering from burnout, there is a need for insights into how burnout can be decreased to improve subjective well-being. The broaden-and-build theory proposes that gratitude increases well-being through an upward spiral. Few studies have examined whether gratitude decreases burnout and what mediating behaviors explain this relationship. Using an international sample of employees (N = 353), this study examines whether work-specific gratitude negatively relates to exhaustion and disengagement. Additionally, since gratitude stimulates helping through upstream reciprocity, this study investigates whether interpersonal helping behavior (IHB) mediates these relationships. Our study showed a negative effect of work-specific gratitude on disengagement and exhaustion and a negative relationship between work-specific gratitude and disengagement, mediated by IHB, suggesting that gratitude stimulates IHB, thereby alleviating disengagement.
Description
No funds, grants, or other support was received.
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
DIFFERENCE, INTERVENTIONS, MEDIATING ROLE, MODEL, ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR, POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, R PACKAGE, SATISFACTION, STRESS, WORKPLACE, burnout, employees, gratitude, interpersonal helping behavior, positive psychology
Citation
Kersten, A, van Woerkom, M, Kooij, D & Bauwens, R 2022, 'Paying gratitude forward at work : How work-specific gratitude can affect burnout through interpersonal helping behavior', Journal of Personnel Psychology, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1027/1866-5888/a000296