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Confirmation of Maslow’s Hypothesis of Synergy: Developing an Acceptance of Selfishness at the Workplace Scale

Author

Listed:
  • Jiro Takaki

    (Department of Public Health, Sanyo Gakuen University Graduate School of Nursing, 1-14-1 Hirai, Naka-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 703-8507, Japan)

  • Toshiyo Taniguchi

    (Department of Welfare System and Health Science, Okayama Prefectural University, 111 Kuboki, Soja-shi, Okayama 719-1197, Japan)

  • Yasuhito Fujii

    (Department of Welfare System and Health Science, Okayama Prefectural University, 111 Kuboki, Soja-shi, Okayama 719-1197, Japan)

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a new Acceptance of Selfishness at the Workplace Scale (ASWS) and to confirm Maslow’s hypothesis of synergy: if both a sense of contribution and acceptance of selfishness at the workplace are high, workers are psychologically healthy. In a cross-sectional study with employees of three Japanese companies, 656 workers answered a self-administered questionnaire on paper completely (response rate = 66.8%). Each questionnaire was submitted to us in a sealed envelope and analyzed. The ASWS indicated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.86). Significant ( p < 0.001) positive moderate correlations between ASWS scores and job control scores support the ASWS’s convergent and discriminant validity. Significant ( p < 0.001) associations of ASWS scores with psychological distress and work engagement supported the ASWS’s criterion validity. In short, ASWS was a psychometrically satisfactory measure. Significant ( p < 0.05) interactions between a sense of contribution and acceptance of selfishness at the workplace in linear regression models showed that when those two factors are low, psychological distress becomes high. However, when a sense of contribution and acceptance of selfishness are high, work engagement also becomes high. Thus, Maslow’s hypothesis of synergy was confirmed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiro Takaki & Toshiyo Taniguchi & Yasuhito Fujii, 2016. "Confirmation of Maslow’s Hypothesis of Synergy: Developing an Acceptance of Selfishness at the Workplace Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:5:p:462-:d:69285
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaojie Sun & Nan Zhang & Kun Liu & Wen Li & Tuula Oksanen & Lizheng Shi, 2014. "Effects of a Randomized Intervention to Improve Workplace Social Capital in Community Health Centers in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Jiro Takaki & Toshiyo Taniguchi & Yasuhito Fujii, 2014. "Reliability, Validity, and Significance of Assessment of Sense of Contribution in the Workplace," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-11, January.
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