IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v20y2019i6d10.1007_s10902-018-0026-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Perceived Organizational Support for the Use of Employees’ Strengths and Employee Well-Being: A Cross-Country Comparison

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Christina Meyers

    (Tilburg University)

  • Byron G. Adams

    (Tilburg University
    University of Johannesburg)

  • Lusanda Sekaja

    (University of Johannesburg)

  • Carmen Buzea

    (Transilvania University of Brașov)

  • Ana-Maria Cazan

    (Transilvania University of Brașov)

  • Mihaela Gotea

    (Transilvania University of Brașov)

  • Delia Stefenel

    (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

  • Marianne Woerkom

    (Tilburg University)

Abstract

Prior research in Western contexts has pointed to the benefits of supporting employees in the use of their personal strengths at work. This manuscript aims to investigate the invariance of the relationship between employees’ perceived organizational support for the use of their strengths and their well-being (work engagement, burnout, and satisfaction with life) across countries. To this end, we collected a cross-sectional sample of n = 1894 working individuals from five different countries (Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Romania, and South Africa). The results of multigroup path analysis indicated that the relationships between support for the use of their strengths at work and the three indicators of well-being did not differ across the five countries. Perceived support for the use of strengths displayed a significant positive relationship with work engagement and satisfaction with life and a significant negative relationship with burnout. Consequently, our findings provide initial evidence for the universal benefits of focusing on individual strengths at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Christina Meyers & Byron G. Adams & Lusanda Sekaja & Carmen Buzea & Ana-Maria Cazan & Mihaela Gotea & Delia Stefenel & Marianne Woerkom, 2019. "Perceived Organizational Support for the Use of Employees’ Strengths and Employee Well-Being: A Cross-Country Comparison," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(6), pages 1825-1841, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0026-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-0026-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-018-0026-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-018-0026-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Taras, Vas & Steel, Piers & Kirkman, Bradley L., 2012. "Improving national cultural indices using a longitudinal meta-analysis of Hofstede's dimensions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 329-341.
    2. Denise Quinlan & Nicola Swain & Dianne Vella-Brodrick, 2012. "Character Strengths Interventions: Building on What We Know for Improved Outcomes," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(6), pages 1145-1163, December.
    3. Claudia Harzer & Willibald Ruch, 2013. "The Application of Signature Character Strengths and Positive Experiences at Work," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 965-983, June.
    4. Maria Christina Meyers & Marianne Woerkom, 2017. "Effects of a Strengths Intervention on General and Work-Related Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Positive Affect," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 671-689, June.
    5. Wilmar Schaufeli & Marisa Salanova & Vicente González-romá & Arnold Bakker, 2002. "The Measurement of Engagement and Burnout: A Two Sample Confirmatory Factor Analytic Approach," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 71-92, March.
    6. Robert Biswas-Diener, 2006. "From the Equator to the North Pole: A Study of Character Strengths," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 293-310, September.
    7. Bradley L Kirkman & Kevin B Lowe & Cristina B Gibson, 2006. "A quarter century of Culture's Consequences: a review of empirical research incorporating Hofstede's cultural values framework," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(3), pages 285-320, May.
    8. Geert Hofstede, 1983. "The Cultural Relativity of Organizational Practices and Theories," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 14(2), pages 75-89, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Michael Yao-Ping Peng & Cheng Xu & Rong Zheng & Yuan He, 2023. "The impact of perceived organizational support on employees’ knowledge transfer and innovative behavior: comparisons between Taiwan and mainland China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Marc-Antoine Gradito Dubord & Jacques Forest & Lina Marija Balčiūnaitė & Evamaria Rauen & Tomas Jungert, 2022. "The power of strength-oriented feedback enlightened by self-determination theory: a positive technology-based intervention," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2827-2848, August.
    3. Rabindra Kumar Pradhan & Kailash Jandu & Lopamudra Hati & Madhusmita Panda, 2024. "Being Nice Goes Long Way: Manifesting Compassion for Others Enacts in Experiencing Positive Emotions and Workplace Happiness for the Employees," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 12(2), pages 208-223, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marine Miglianico & Philippe Dubreuil & Paule Miquelon & Arnold B. Bakker & Charles Martin-Krumm, 2020. "Strength Use in the Workplace: A Literature Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 737-764, February.
    2. Bernhard Fietz & Julia Hillmann & Edeltraud Guenther, 2021. "Cultural Effects on Organizational Resilience: Evidence from the NAFTA Region," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 73(1), pages 5-46, March.
    3. Nicola S. Schutte & John M. Malouff, 2019. "The Impact of Signature Character Strengths Interventions: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1179-1196, April.
    4. Mark F Peterson & Tais S Barreto, 2018. "Interpreting societal culture value dimensions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(9), pages 1190-1207, December.
    5. Maria Christina Meyers & Marianne Woerkom, 2017. "Effects of a Strengths Intervention on General and Work-Related Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Positive Affect," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 671-689, June.
    6. Maria Christina Meyers & Dorien Kooij & Brigitte Kroon & Renee Reuver & Marianne Woerkom, 2020. "Organizational Support for Strengths Use, Work Engagement, and Contextual Performance: The Moderating Role of Age," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 485-502, April.
    7. María Josefina Peláez & Cristián Coo & Marisa Salanova, 2020. "Facilitating Work Engagement and Performance Through Strengths-Based Micro-coaching: A Controlled Trial Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1265-1284, April.
    8. Bradley L Kirkman & Kevin B Lowe & Cristina B Gibson, 2017. "A retrospective on Culture’s Consequences: The 35-year journey," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(1), pages 12-29, January.
    9. Giovanna Magnani & Antonella Zucchella & Dinorà Eliete Floriani, 2015. "Relativity and asymmetry in distance. The role of strategic distance in the internationalization decisions of Brazilian and Italian firms," DEM Working Papers Series 111, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Management.
    10. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, 2022. "Capitalizing on the uniqueness of international business: Towards a theory of place, space, and organization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(9), pages 2050-2067, December.
    11. Dongao Li & Songdong Shen, 2022. "Social Environment and Healthy Investment Behavior: Joint Influence of Culture and Institution on China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, January.
    12. David Ralston & Carolyn Egri & Olivier Furrer & Min-Hsun Kuo & Yongjuan Li & Florian Wangenheim & Marina Dabic & Irina Naoumova & Katsuhiko Shimizu & María Garza Carranza & Ping Fu & Vojko Potocan & A, 2014. "Societal-Level Versus Individual-Level Predictions of Ethical Behavior: A 48-Society Study of Collectivism and Individualism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(2), pages 283-306, June.
    13. Venkateswaran, Ramya Tarakad & George, Rejie, 2020. "When does culture matter? A multilevel study on the role of situational moderators," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 99-122.
    14. El-Helaly, Moataz & Ntim, Collins G. & Soliman, Mark, 2020. "The Role of National Culture in International Financial Reporting Standards Adoption," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    15. Kiril Dimitrov, 2014. "Geert Hofstede et al’s Set of National Cultural Dimensions - Popularity and Criticisms," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 2, pages 30-60, April.
    16. Tohar Dolev-Amit & Avinadav Rubin & Sigal Zilcha-Mano, 2021. "Is Awareness of Strengths Intervention Sufficient to Cultivate Wellbeing and Other Positive Outcomes?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 645-666, February.
    17. Magnani, Giovanna & Zucchella, Antonella & Floriani, Dinorá Eliete, 2018. "The logic behind foreign market selection: Objective distance dimensions vs. strategic objectives and psychic distance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 1-20.
    18. Jiao Huang & Sameer Kumar & Chuan Hu, 2020. "Does Culture Matter? A Comparative Study on the Motivations for Online Identity Reconstruction Between China and Malaysia," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    19. Gunkel, Marjaana & Schlaegel, Christopher & Taras, Vas, 2016. "Cultural values, emotional intelligence, and conflict handling styles: A global study," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 568-585.
    20. Dheer, Ratan J.S. & Li, Mingxiang & Treviño, Len J., 2019. "An integrative approach to the gender gap in entrepreneurship across nations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 1-1.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0026-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.