14 DAY TRIAL // Experts from the Queen Mary University of London, in the UK, discovered in a new study that people tend to form their perceptions of happiness and well-being based for the most part on the nature of their work environment. Details of the work appear in the latest issue of the journal PLoS ONE.
The team found that people who reported higher levels of overall happiness were more likely to experience high levels of control in the workplace, particularly over what they did, and how they did it. Other factors that proved important were support from coworkers and bosses, and a feeling included.
People also tended to report more happiness when they were able to confide in their colleagues, and when they reported very low levels of job strain. The longitudinal study was carried out on more than 5,100 public servants in London, PsychCentral reports.
“We believe any policies designed to improve the workplace should not just minimize negative aspects of work, but more crucially, increase the positive aspects, such as a creating a greater sense of control and support among employees,” says Queen Mary professor of psychiatry Stephen Stansfeld, PhD.