Work Well Being
As a society, we invest heavily in our careers and often frame parts of our social identity around our jobs. Work has a profound influence on the way we feel. It can potentially improve the quality of our lives.
Autonomy refers to freedom from control by others. Those who are self-directed, have the latitude to make decisions and regulate the pace and timing of their work tend to report fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, and greater positive affect, vitality, and self esteem.
Job autonomy improves psychological well-being by promoting our sense of control, which acts as a buffer against stress. Work environments that are too prescriptive, a supervisor who micro-manages their staff’s activities tend to bear down psychologically on individuals.
Creativity is a condition of the work environment, engaged in by the individual. Creativity involves originality, imagination, and self-expression. Creative work tends to be complex and challenging, requiring people to use new information and problem solving skills to address an issue, answer a question, or complete a project. Creativity tends to be more prevalent in work environments that are autonomous. The individual is ultimately responsible for engaging in creative activities. Regardless of context, creative work is psychologically rewarding. A study has found those who described their work activities as creative reported better physical health, less likely to feel run-down or tired, and to experience back pains or head aches.
Although certain work characteristics have a positive influence on psychological well-being, others have the potential to negatively effect our moods. Foremost among the negative aspects of work is job strain. Job strains include interpersonal conflicts between employees, emotional demands, work-home interference, and feelings of insecurity about the future of one's position. They also include the reverse side of autonomy, feeling powerless or having a low overall sense of control. A study found people who felt insecure about, or bothered by, their work were less likely to get restful sleep compared to those who experienced less job stress. Arguing with a coworker or having excessive demands on your time can trigger the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which make it difficult to relax at the end of a workday.
Psychology Today
No comments:
Post a Comment