Recalling Positive Events at Work Makes Employees Feel Happier, Move More, but Interact Less: A 6-Week Randomized Controlled Intervention at a Japanese Workplace

Abstract

Simple self-administered activities, such as practicing gratitude or kindness, have been shown to increase happiness, yet only self-report measures have been used so far. Our study, conducted with a Japanese workplace sample, incorporated a novel technology to gather precise behavioral data reflecting participant movement and social interactions. Employees were randomly assigned to either recount three positive events at work (a positive activity) or list work tasks they completed (control) weekly for 6 weeks; furthermore, they reported their happiness levels and wore sociometric badges that recorded their behavior. Relative to controls, participants who considered good things at work not only reported relatively greater happiness over time but moved more upon arriving to work, engaged in less social interaction, and left the office earlier. Most of the findings were moderated by participant effort, such that those who put more effort into the positive activity also showed greater changes.

Upregulating the positive affect system in anxiety and depression: Outcomes of a positive activity intervention

“…Participants write about up to five things for which they are grateful, including events from the past week, or things in their life more generally (Seligman et al, 2005, Chancellor, Layous, & Lyubomirsky, 2015, Emmons & McCullough, 2003.…”

Integrating Positive and Clinical Psychology: Viewing Human Functioning as Continua from Positive to Negative Can Benefit Clinical Assessment, Interventions and Understandings of Resilience

“…However, a number of positive psychology interventions do not rely upon the client engaging with these socially constructed concepts. For example, many positive interventions focus on the enacting of positive activities, such as writing down positive events (Chancellor, Layous, & Lyubomirsky, 2014) or things that people are grateful or pleased to have in their lives (Emmons & McCullough, 2003;see Shin & Lyubomirsky, in press, for an overview). As such, this need for shared concepts of health (either positive or negative) are less likely to be a hindrance to the effectiveness of these interventions.…”

Good for self or good for others? The well-being benefits of kindness in two cultures depend on how the kindness is framed

“…Positive activity interventions experimentally test the practice of simple, self-administered cognitive and behavioral strategies that can increase subjective well-being by promoting positive feelings, positive thoughts, and positive behaviors . For example, activities such as counting one's blessings (Chancellor, Layous, & Lyubomirsky, 2015;Emmons & McCullough, 2003;Froh, Sefick, & Emmons, 2008;Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005), writing letters of gratitude Layous, Lee, Choi, & Lyubomirsky, 2013;Layous et al, 2017;Lyubomirsky, Dickerhoof, Boehm, & Sheldon, 2011;Seligman et al, 2005), and performing acts of kindness (Chancellor, Margolis, Jacobs Bao, & Lyubomirsky, 2018;Dunn, Aknin, & Norton, 2008;Layous et al, 2013;Nelson et al, 2015;Nelson, Layous, Cole, & Lyubomirsky, 2016;Sheldon, Boehm, & Lyubomirsky, 2012) have been shown to reliably boost well-being. If administered optimally, positive activity interventions can also build positive psychological resources such as social connections and meaning in life, as well as ameliorate existing maladaptive symptoms such as anxiety and rumination (Layous, Chancellor, & Lyubomirsky, 2014;Seligman, Rashid, & Parks, 2006;Seligman et al, 2005;Shin & Lyubomirsky, 2016;Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009;Taylor, Lyubomirsky, & Stein, 2017).…”