Title: Infusing Sustainable Happiness into Nursing for Positive Work Environments
1Infusing Sustainable Happiness into Nursing for
Positive Work Environments
- Sheila Profit, BScN, MAdEd
- Judy Bailey, MN, RN
- Catherine O'Brien, PhD
- Cape Breton University
2Literature Review
- By 2022, Canada may have a shortage of almost
66,000 nurses (Tomblin Murphy, Birch, Alder,
MacKenzie, Lethbridge, Little Cook, 2009). -
- Recommendations to address this shortage include
- developing strategies to improve retention of
RNs, - improve health and well-being of RNs
- improve the retention of nursing students
- Over the past decade research has emerged that
investigates the health benefits of positive
emotions, subjective well-being (happiness) and
life satisfaction.
3Happiness Defined
- Definitions vary
- Often referred to as subjective well-being
- Judgments of life satisfaction
- Affect balance positive feelings and few
negative feelings (Schimmack, 2008 cited in
Fisher, 2010) - Happy or good life involves
- doing what is right and virtuous
- Pursuing important or self-concordant goals
- Using and developing ones skills and talents
regardless of how one feels at any point in time
(Warr 2007 cited in Fisher, 2010)
4Happiness Literature
- Research from the field of positive psychology is
being applied in many fields, including workplace
wellness. - Positive psychology focuses on enhancing
well-being through the study of happiness,
subjective well-being, and life satisfaction. - Definitions of happiness may vary, but
researchers have demonstrated that ones
subjective experience of happiness corresponds
with numerous positive health outcomes (Steptoe,
Wardle, Marmot, 2005). - Happiness is often referred to as subjective
well-being
5Happiness and Health
- Studies suggest that positive emotions are
associated with longevity, lower blood pressure,
and reduced risk of heart disease (Seligman,
2002 Steptoe, Wardle Marmot, 2005 Veenhoven,
2006). - Research published in the European Heart Journal
followed more than 1700 Nova Scotians over ten
years - those who had experienced and expressed positive
emotions at the outset of the study had reduced
incidence of heart disease. - Participants who had scored highest in terms of
positive emotions were also less likely to be
smokers - Preventive strategies could include increasing
positive affect (Davidson, Mostofsky Whang,
2010).
6Happiness-Related Constructs in the Workplace
- Job satisfaction,
- Typical mood at work,
- Thriving,
- Engagement,
- Job involvement
- All constructs re happiness in workplace have in
common - Pleasant judgments (positive attitudes) or
pleasant experiences (positive feelings, moods,
emotions) at work - These are stable over time
7Research on Happiness and Workplace
- Happy and satisfied people are relatively more
successful in the workplace - There is a positive correlation between career
satisfaction, self-nurturance and life
satisfaction (Nemcek, 2007) - Business and health care organizations are
recognizing a connection between employee
happiness and enhanced productivity and improved
outcomes (Scott, 2009). - Happy people earn more money, display superior
performance and perform more helpful acts (Boehm
Lyubominsky, 2008) - Happy people are more satisfied with their jobs
than unhappy people (Boehm Lyubimsky,2008)
8Happiness and Workplace
- It has been assumed that the accomplishments of
success in the workplace causes people to be
happy. - Instead the evidence suggests that happiness
preceded measures of success and that induction
of positive affect leads to improved workplace
outcomes (Boehm Lyubomirsky, 2008)
9Question
- Is it possible to teach happiness skills that can
lead to sustained well-being? - Can individuals shift from a lower level of
happiness to one that is higher and thus reap the
health benefits? - Could happiness skills be used as method for
fostering healthier lifestyles?
10- Many models have been proposed for learning
happiness skills (Seligman, 2002 Foster
Hicks, 2000 Ryan, Huta, Deci,2008) - Foster and Hicks have developed a happiness
model that has been used to train more than
5,000 nurses at the Mayo Clinic. Health
professionals who participated in their training
program experienced enhanced subjective
well-being, both personally and professionally.
Participants also develop skills that can be
applied with clients.
11- Research by Dr. Catherine OBrien with nursing
staff and medical social workers using the
happiness model by Foster and Hicks found a
positive impact on - Participants attitudes
- A healthy work environment
- Nursing participants recommended that every nurse
and nursing student would benefit from
participating in a similar happiness workshop
12What is Sustainable Happiness?
- Developed by Dr. Catherine OBrien(2005) to merge
principles of sustainability and findings from
happiness studies in order to draw attention to
the consequences, both positive and adverse, of
how individuals, communities and nations pursue
happiness - Sustainable happiness is happiness that
contributes to individual, community and/or
global well-being and does not exploit other
people, the environment or future generations
(OBrien, 2009).
13Foster and Hicks Happiness Model
14The Nine Choices Towards Happiness (Foster
Hicks)
- Intention the active desire and commitment to
be happy and the decision to consciously choose
attitudes and behaviours that lead to happiness
over unhappiness - Accountability the choice to create the life
you want to live, to assume personal
responsibility for your actions, thoughts and
feelings and the emphatic refusal to blame others
or view yourself as a victim - Identification- the ongoing process of looking
deeply within yourself to assess what makes you
uniquely happy, apart from what you are told be
others should make you happy
15- Centrality the non-negotiable insistence on
making central to your life that which brings you
happiness - Recasting - the two-step process that transforms
problems and trauma into something meaningful,
important and a source of emotional, energy - Options the decision to approach life by
creating multiple scenarios, to be open to new
possibilities and to adopt a flexible approach to
lifes journey
16- Appreciation the choice to appreciate deeply
your life and the people in it and to stay in the
present by turning each experience into something
precious - Giving the choice to share yourself with
friends and community and to give to the world at
large without the expectation of a return - Truthfulness the choice to be honest with
yourself and others. And not allow societal,
workplace, or family demands to violate your
internal contract
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18Purpose of Research
- Introduce nursing faculty and nursing students to
the happiness literature, outlining its
significance for personal and professional
well-being. - A workshop was done with the nursing faculty
prior to doing the research with the - The Foster and Hicks happiness model the
concept of sustainable happiness an intervention
strategy which may assist students to develop or
re-connect to an intrinsic value system. - Intrinsic value orientations are associated with
higher measures of subjective well-being
(happiness). - Research question What is the impact of the
Foster and Hicks model and sustainable happiness
on the intrinsic values of 1st and 4th year
nursing students ?
19Ethics
- This research received approval from the CBU
Research Ethics Board - Funding received from the Cape Breton Health
Research Grant Fund for 4034.00
20Methodology
- This was a minimal risk study.
- Sustainable Happiness Workshops were provided to
1st year and a 4th year experimental groups - No workshop initially for 1st 4th year control
groups - All students provided consent to complete an
Aspirations Index Survey Sustainable Happiness
Survey - Following survey completion a random selection
of students were interviewed
21Workshop
- The aim of the workshop was to provide skills to
enhance subjective well-being - Video
- Interactive exercises (listening)
- Relating personal experiences
- Reflecting on personality types
- Examine intrinsic vs extrinsic rewards
22Example of Workshop ExerciseSelf Reflection
- Think about the happiest person you know and why
you consider them to be happy? - What makes you happy?
23Risk
- The only potential adverse impact is that through
the process of reflecting on happiness,
participants may find that they become aware of
aspects of their life, personally or
professionally, that are not satisfactory - The students were provided access to support
systems for dealing with any issues that may have
surfaced
24Student Participation
- N 491 1 and N1251 designated Control Groups
- Offered the workshop post research study for
Control participants - N4912 and N1252 designated Experimental Groups
were given the workshop
25First Surveys
- Consents, The Sustainable Happiness Survey and
The Aspirations Index Survey were distributed to
both Control Experimental Groups - The Aspirations Index was used with the
permission of the authors. It measures intrinsic
and extrinsic value orientations. - Voluntary
- Coding for confidentiality and data collection
26Second Surveys
- Completed by the Experimental Groups N4912 and
N1252 in class 1 week following the workshop
27Third Surveys
- The Sustainable Happiness Survey and The
Aspirations Index Survey were distributed to both
Control Experimental Groups during the last
class of the term (3 months following 1st survey)
28Interviews
- Student interviews conducted
- Random selection of students both control
experimental - 6-10 Interviews Experimental
- 2-3 Interviews Control
29Results of the Research
30Aspirations Index Survey57 questions ( a b),
measured 11 domains
- Money
- Image
- Popularity
- Conformity
- Self-acceptance
- Affiliation
- Community
- Health
- Spirituality
- Hedonism
- Safety
31Sample of Questions for AI Survey
- Money Domain
- I will have many expensive possessions
- Importance 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 - not at all a little
moderate very extremely - Chances 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 - very low low
moderate high very high - Self Acceptance Domain
- The things I do will make other peoples lives
better - Importance 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 - not at all a little
moderate very extremely - Chances 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 - very low low
moderate high very high -
32Questions for Sustainable Happiness SurveyPrior
to the Sustainable Happiness workshop I often
engaged in the following activities
- __attempting to buy local products
- __checking where products are made
- __mindfulness
- __spending time with friends
- __spending time with my family
- __using the Foster Hicks happiness model
- __attempting to reduce my consumption
- __Other (please describe)
- __carpooling
- __water conservation
- __expressing appreciation
- __walking
- __composting
- __purchasing fair trade products
- __energy conservation
- __counting my blessings
- __ using public transit
- __physical exercise
- __eating nutritious food
33Data Analysis of AI SH Surveys
- 1st year Experimental 33 students (198 surveys)
- 1st year control 37 students ( 148 surveys)
- 4th year Experimental 21 students (126 surveys)
- 4th year Control 25 students (100 surveys)
- SPSS, Descriptive Statistics, Mean, Grand Mean,
Anova
34Interview Questions - Experimental
- What was your experience of the workshop while
you were attending? - realized the biggest thing I need to change-
recycling driving- Im carpooling now and
recycling- less use of water bottles- Im saving
money, that makes me happier- I remember the
animal types, I was in a big group of dolphins-
the surveys are what I remember most- I learned
from the surveys - I wanted to do the natural highs more
often-expressing gratitude-made a point of
appreciating parents-thought it was cool to think
about happiness
35Interview Questions- Experimental
- Following the workshop, did you experience any
positive (or adverse) short term impact on your
life personally? - Yes, I am someone who is stressed- found I
started to use me language rather than you in
relationships- take responsibility instead of
blaming-expressing appreciation more
36Interview Questions-Control
- Identified experiences as a nursing student as
very stressful - Indicated limited awareness of relationship b/t
happiness, health and well being
37Ongoing Analysis of Results
- Need to integrate the concept of sustainable
happiness and happiness skills throughout the
program and not rely on just ½ day workshop - Happiness literature has implications for
personal, unit and organizational level
38- The concepts of Sustainable Happiness can make a
positive impact on at least 3 levels - Personal
- Practice Work Environment
- Client Outcomes
39References
- Boehm, J. K. Lyubominsky, S. (2008) Does
happiness promote career success? Journal of
Career Assessment, 16 (1) 101-106. - Davidson, K. W. Mostofsky, E.. Whang, W. (2010,
February) Don't worry, be happy positive affect
and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart
disease The Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey.
European Heart Journal. - Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, J., Griffin, S.
(1985). The satisfaction with life scale. J
Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. - Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at work.
International Journal of Management Reviews, 12,
384-412. - Grouzet, F., Kasser, T., Ahuvia, A., Dols, J.,
Kim, Y., Ryan, R.M., Kennon M. S. (2005). The
structure of goal contents across 15 cultures.
Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology,89(5), 800816 - Nemcek, M.A. (2007). Registered nurses
self-nurturance and life and career satisfaction.
AAOHN Journal, 55(8), 305-320. - OBrien, C. (May, 2010) Sustainability, happiness
and education. Journal of Sustainability
Education. 1.
40References
- Ryan, R.M., Huta, V. Deci, E.L. (2008). Living
well a self-determination theory perspective on
eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9,
139-170. - Schimmack, U. (2008). The structure of subjective
well-being. In Eid, M. Larsen, R.J. (eds.) The
Science of Subjective Well-being. New York The
Guilford Press. - Scott, D.E. (2009). Happiness at work. The
Alabama Nurse, 36 (1) p.9. - Seligman, M. (2002). Authentic happiness.
Toronto Free Press. - Steptoe, A., Wardle, J., Marmot, M. (2005).
Positive affect and health-related
neuroendrocrine, cardiovascular, and inflammatory
process. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Science,102 (18), 6508-6512. - Tomlin-Murphy, G., Birch, S., Alder, R.,
MacKenzie, A., Lethbridge, L., Little, L. Cook,
A. (2009). Tested solutions for eliminating
Canadas registered nurse shortage (Canadian
Nurses Association Rep.) - Veenhoven, R. (2006). Healthy happiness Effects
of happiness on physical health and the
consequences for preventive health care, Journal
of Happiness Studies, 15-11.
41Questions