Living a Calling During COVID-19: A Resource Gain Perspective

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health Psychology
• Organizational Behavior
• Positive Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant work disruptions and threatened employee well-being.
• Identifying resources that foster employee resilience and resource gain is crucial.
• A resource gain perspective offers a framework to understand these adaptive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role of living a calling as a resource for gaining work readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To investigate the subsequent impact of work readiness on employee well-being, specifically job strain.
• To provide empirical evidence on the benefits of a calling in times of crisis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a resource gain perspective to analyze the study's variables.
• Surveyed a sample of 216 clergy members from diverse denominations.
• Employed quantitative methods to assess the relationships between living a calling, work readiness, and job strain.

Main Results:

• Living a calling was associated with increased work readiness amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Increased work readiness, in turn, was linked to lower levels of job strain.
• Clergy reporting a stronger sense of calling demonstrated greater adaptability and well-being.

Conclusions:

• Living a calling serves as a significant resource, enhancing work readiness and mitigating job strain for employees.
• The findings underscore the importance of fostering a sense of calling in the workplace, especially during times of uncertainty.
• This research highlights the protective role of calling-related resources against the negative impacts of crises on employee well-being.