Effects of a Newly Developed Gratitude Intervention Program on Work Engagement Among Japanese Workers: A Pre- and Posttest Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a 3-week gratitude intervention program that included gratitude lists and behavioral gratitude expression and to examine the effect of the program on work engagement, gratitude, self-efficacy, psychological distress, and job performance in a pretest-posttest study design. METHODS: Eight hundred thirty-five employees were recruited for the study. The outcomes were measured at baseline, postintervention, and at 6-week follow-up. Estimated means at the three points were compared in a mixed model for repeated measures. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five workers were included and analyzed. Work engagement showed no significant improvement after the intervention. However, gratitude, self-efficacy, psychological distress, and job performance improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The program might be effective for improving gratitude, self-efficacy, psychological distress, and job performance, but further modification of the program is needed to improve the effect on work engagement.
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- Authors
- Komase, Y., Watanabe, K., Imamura, K., & Kawakami, N.
- Affiliations
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Kawakami, Norito
- Venue
- Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
- Published
- 2019-09
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- e378-e383
- ISSN
- 1076-2752 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2960278520
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19K21509)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Keywords
- gratitude interventions, work engagement, self-efficacy, psychological distress, employee performance, workers, Japanese workers
- MeSH terms
- Work Performance, Work Engagement, Adult, Emotions, Female, Humans, Japan, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Program Evaluation, Program Development, Workplace, Young Adult
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