The Role of Psychological States in Worker Well-Being Cristina Banks, PhD & Isabelle Thibau, MPH Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces University of California, Berkeley

Overview Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces HealthyWorkplaces Model Application of the Model: Graduate Student Well- Being Study Study Results & Conclusions Future Research

HealthyWorkplaces Center Created 2011 Physical, psychological, emotional, and social health and well-being. Mission: “To re-invent the workplace by integrating and applying interdisciplinary sciences to achieve worker health and psychological well-being.” Capitalize on what we already know Develop new thinking Innovate Implement proven and tested solutions

What are we trying to accomplish? Change how employees experience work and the work environment so they can be high-performing, fully-engaged and thriving workforce. When employees experience health and well-being, they come to work ready to do their best work every day.

How do we accomplish this? Literature reviews across disciplines to identify factors that positively affect employee health and well-being. Find commonalities across studies which might suggest underlying processes or factors that can explain variable results. One potential factor identified: psychological states arising from need satisfaction Understand the linkages between organizational attributes, psychological needs, and work outcomes.

HealthyWorkplaces Model

Psychological States

Graduate Student Well-Being Pilot Study Purpose: Explore the relationships between study environment features, psychological states, study outcomes Subjects: Graduate students from School of Public Health, College of Environmental Design (N=98) Measure: Graduate Student Experience Survey Method: Developed, administered on-line survey to all registered students (371+), one-month response period; attrition rate = 60% Analysis: Descriptive statistics and pair-wise correlations

Graduate Student Experience Survey Workspace Features Uncluttered workspace, clean Views of nature outside Enclosed study rooms Re-arrangeable furniture Windows Layout Ambiance Quiet Private Natural light Background noise Wall decoration Wall colors

Graduate Student Experience Survey Social Factors Communications with fellow students Understanding course assignments Understanding instructions from professors Seating clusters that allow social interactions Social supports University Culture, Resources Promotes good study habits Supports teamwork Promotes peer support Safety culture Access to healthy food Research training

Measures of Psychological States Physical well-being Energy/Vitality Personal growth Safety Meaning/Purpose Positive emotions Belonging/Social connection Autonomy Competence/Mastery Engagement/Accomplishment

Psychological States Results Energy/vitality (881) Positive emotions (855) Physical well-being (839) Autonomy (554) Engagement/Accomplishment (551) Competence/Mastery (477) Belonging/social connection (426) Meaning/Purpose (377) Safety (357) Personal growth (327)

Outcome Measures Satisfaction with study habits, performance in courses, learning and acquisition of knowledge. Productive when I study and do coursework, able to achieve my education goals, able to work efficiently and comfortably

Outcome Results Satisfaction with study habits (3.23) Satisfaction with performance in courses (3.71) Satisfaction with learning course material and acquisition of knowledge (3.71) Productive when I study (3.76) Able to achieve my education goals (3.94) Able to work efficiently and comfortably (3.28)

Important Workspace Features Non-smoking policy Windows Cleanliness Uncluttered workspaces Layout of study space

Important Ambiance Factors Natural light Quiet Clean Free from odors Thermal comfort Fresh air

Important Culture Factors & Resources Equity, fairness Safety, free from harassment Social bonding Reliable internet/Wi-Fi Cleanliness Access to healthy food Timely and effective communications

Features Associated with Positive Psychological States Natural light Supportive study culture Equity Support of peers Clean, uncluttered environment Windows Quiet workspace Recognition of accomplishments Individual study tables Having research training Having predictable workloads

Relationship Between Features, Psychological States and Outcomes Pair-wise correlations (p < .05): Satisfaction with ability to achieve education goals and Positive Emotions (r = 0.32), Autonomy (r = 0.59), Competence/Mastery (r = 0.45). Stepwise regression: Satisfaction with ability to achieve education goals and 10 psychological states (R^2= 0.47, F = 2.34, p < .05)

Conclusions Features are associated with psychological states Individual differences in the perception of psychological states The more features in a student’s workspace that are associated with positive psychological states, the more reported satisfaction with the ability to achieve educational goals.

Future Research More precise measurement of which features are actually present in student’s environment. Include home study environment (45% time) More in-depth exploration of the relationship between features and psychological states. More comprehensive measure of “psychological state load” in study environment.