Exploring Selective Exposure and Confirmation Bias as Processes Underlying Employee Work Happiness: An Intervention...

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Positive Psychology
• Workplace Well-being

Background:

• Employee psychological capital (PsyCap), organizational virtue (OV), and work happiness are interconnected.
• Understanding the underlying psychological mechanisms is crucial for enhancing employee well-being.
• Previous research indicates associations between these factors over time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate selective exposure and confirmation bias as mediators in the PsyCap-OV-work happiness relationship.
• To examine these processes within a quasi-experimental field study.
• To advance theoretical understanding of employee attitude formation and its impact on work happiness.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with school staff (N = 69).
• Surveys were administered at three distinct time points.
• A positive psychology training intervention was provided to a subset of participants (n = 51) after the initial assessment.

Main Results:

• Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted.
• Results offered partial support for selective exposure and confirmation bias as explanatory mechanisms.
• The intervention group's data provided insights into these psychological processes.

Conclusions:

• Selective exposure and confirmation bias may help explain how employee attitudes influence work happiness.
• This study contributes empirical evidence from a field context to psychological theories.
• Findings highlight potential pathways for interventions aimed at improving workplace happiness and engagement.