Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
07:14
Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models
Published on: December 23, 2025
Test of a model linking employee positive moods and task performance
Wei-Chi Tsai1, Chien-Cheng Chen, Hui-Lu Liu
1Department of Business Administration, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan. weichi@nccu.edu.tw
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|November 21, 2007
Summary
Employee positive moods boost task performance by fostering interpersonal helping and motivational processes like self-efficacy and persistence. This research clarifies the mechanisms linking positive emotions to better job outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Workplace Behavior
- Employee Well-being
Background:
- Previous research indicates a link between positive employee moods and task performance.
- The specific mediating mechanisms require further empirical investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and test a model explaining how positive moods influence task performance.
- To examine the roles of interpersonal and motivational processes in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Two longitudinal studies were conducted with insurance sales agents in Taiwan.
- Data were collected from 306 participants in Study 1 and 263 in Study 2.
Main Results:
- Employee positive moods were found to indirectly predict task performance.
- Interpersonal processes (helping coworkers, receiving support) and motivational processes (self-efficacy, persistence) mediated this relationship.
Conclusions:
- Positive employee moods enhance task performance through improved coworker interactions and increased motivation.
- Understanding these mediating factors can inform strategies to improve employee performance and well-being.
Related Concept Videos
01:29The Influence of Affect on Cognition
Positive affect significantly influences cognitive processes, including evaluation, memory, creativity, and social judgments. Compared to negative affect, positive emotional states promote more favorable interpretations of stimuli, cognitive flexibility, and heuristic processing. These effects highlight emotions' powerful role in shaping how individuals perceive, remember, and interact with the world.Influence on Evaluation and AttributionWhen individuals experience positive affect, they are...
01:22Traits, Mood, and Subjective Wellbeing
Subjective well-being (SWB) refers to an individual's self-evaluation of their overall life satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. This multifaceted construct is typically assessed by analyzing the balance of positive and negative emotions alongside perceptions of life satisfaction. Personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion are strongly associated with variations in SWB, offering critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of emotional well-being.
Neuroticism and Emotional...
Neuroticism and Emotional...
01:01Role of Emotions in Social Life
Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...
01:27Halo Effect
The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which an individual's overall impression influences judgments about their specific traits. This psychological phenomenon leads people to associate positive characteristics with those they perceive as generally good and negative characteristics with those they view as bad. This effect is particularly influential in social perception, professional evaluations, and decision-making processes.The Psychological Basis of the Halo EffectThe halo effect is rooted...
01:24Role of Affect in Interpersonal Attraction
Affect plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal evaluations and perceptions. Emotions influence how individuals judge and respond to others, often determining whether interactions are viewed positively or negatively. This effect can manifest directly through interactions with the person in question or indirectly via associations with unrelated emotional experiences.Direct Effects of Affect on AttractionAffect directly influences interpersonal attraction when a person’s behavior elicits...
01:23Optimal Arousal Theory
The optimal arousal theory suggests that performance is maximized when an individual experiences a moderate level of arousal. This theory is closely tied to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which illustrates an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal and performance. The law, formulated by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson, implies an ideal arousal level for optimal performance, and deviations from this level can lead to declines in effectiveness.
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...