MANHATTAN, Kan., Aug 26, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Employees who are invigorated
and dedicated at work carry over their positive work experiences for a happier
home life, U.S. researchers say.
Clive Fullagar, a professor of psychology, Satoris Culbertson, assistant
professor of psychology, and Maura Mills, a graduate student in psychology --
all of Kansas State University in Manhattan -- tracked 67 extension agents for
two-weeks.
The participants responded to two daily surveys, one at the end of their workday
and the other immediately before going to bed. The study participants also
completed a separate survey before the start of the two-week period and another
after the daily data collection had ended.
The researchers found that employees who are engaged in their work -- higher
levels of vigor, dedication and absorption in daily activities -- had better
moods and more satisfaction at home.
However, Culbertson stressed that engagement refers to positive work involvement
rather than more negative forms of job involvement like workaholism and work
addiction.
"Workaholics have been shown to experience higher levels of work-family
conflict," Culbertson said in a statement. "Our study showed that higher levels
of engagement were related to higher levels of work-family facilitation rather
than conflict."
The findings were presented at the annual conference for Society for Industrial
and Organizational Psychology in New Orleans.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International