Here is an explanation of the research I did this last year, and of its results. First of all, we are in a period where more and more people suffer in their jobs. We noticed that there is an increase of burnout, harassment, stress etc. The human aspect at work is therefore not enough considered in France. However, some studies highlighted the positive effects of spirituality, showing that it could be a real wellness factor, especially if it enabled people to give a meaning to their lives.
More precisely, spirituality, that is, giving meaning to the work itself, would bring new perspectives for companies, new ways of life and new organizational functioning. This would provide a more “human” view of the companies’ functioning, leading to employee well-being.
The objective of this study was to show that spirituality holds a positive influence on the well-being and motivation for people in the workplace. It was also argued that there is a correlation between well-being and motivation at work. Three questionnaires were used: first, a questionnaire of motivation at work (Gilet, Berjot & Paty, 2010), second, a questionnaire of well-being at work: the French version of the « job content questionnaire » of Karasek (1979) and, lastly, a scale of implicit specular spirituality (Roussiau, Renard & Bailly, 2016).
We got 64 participants for the study. Their average age was about 31 years. The sample was composed of 36% of men with an average age of 28 years and 64% of women with an average age of 34 years. Their socio-professional categories are the following: « Artisans and traders » (33% of participants), « Employees » (also 33% of participants), « Executives and higher intellectual professions » (22% of participants), « Intermediate professions » (8% of participants) and, finally, « Workers » (5% of participants).
The results demonstrate that there are several correlations and significant differences that validate all hypotheses. Accordingly, we found, on the one hand, an intrinsic motivation more present in the spiritual persons, and, on the other hand, an extrinsic motivation more present in the non-spiritual persons. Moreover, spiritual people have a higher level of well-being at work than non-spiritual people. Those are finally, the three correlations between the levels of motivation and the level of well-being of individuals at the work that appeared.
Nevertheless, this study has some limits such as the bias of student jobs or the fact that the sample was modest. However, it also includes interests such as the originality of integrating the concept of spirituality into the field of work, and also the use of a questionnaire of a-religious spirituality.
Moreover, this research leads to new questions and new possibilities for studies, notably concerning personality traits and their potential roles on the level of personalities of individuals. It may also be appropriate to wonder if the number of spiritual people and the effects of spirituality can change according to the culture. Comparing the socio-occupational categories of the participants or focusing on a particular trade could be also interesting.
To conclude, we find necessary, especially within our materialistic societies, to take into account the human aspect in the workplace (which can contribute to the psychic and physical health of individuals). Future studies on spirituality, specifically on a-religious belief, would therefore seem pertinent, now that this work has been recognized as fundamental and essential for everyone.
VADON Solène
My name is Solène Vadon, I’m 22 years old. I live in Nantes with my boyfriend. I have been swimming for 13 years. I work as an animator for the children during school holidays. Furthermore, I have 2 sisters, one is in L3 of psychology and the other in L1 of medicine. I did my 4 years of psychology at the University of Nantes. After my graduation, I would like to work in a consultant office.