IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ariqol/v18y2023i1d10.1007_s11482-022-10094-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Being Virtuous Together: A One-Year Prospective Study on Organizational Virtuousness, Well-Being, and Organizational Commitment

Author

Listed:
  • Henry C. Y. Ho

    (The Education University of Hong Kong)

  • Wai Kai Hou

    (The Education University of Hong Kong)

  • Kai-Tak POON

    (The Education University of Hong Kong)

  • Angel N. M. Leung

    (The Education University of Hong Kong)

  • Joyce L. Y. Kwan

    (The Education University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Organizational virtuousness is defined as collective positive attributes and behaviors supported by and characteristic of an organization that promote hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being, and optimal performance. The underlying mechanisms through which organizational virtuousness operate remain largely unknown. Drawing from the broaden-and-build theory, organizational virtuousness is proposed to broaden employees’ attention and cognition toward positive stimuli and events, and over time, build psychological resources for managing future endeavors. Building resources in turn promotes well-being and organizational commitment. A 3-wave prospective study (baseline, T1; 3 months, T2; and 1 year, T3) was conducted with a sample of 444 primary and secondary schoolteachers in Hong Kong. Organizational virtuousness, cognitive reappraisal, psychological capital (PsyCap), life satisfaction, flourishing, affective commitment, and contextual performance were assessed. The results showed that cognitive reappraisal and PsyCap served as sequential mediators of the relationships between three components of organizational virtuousness and all four indicators of well-being and organizational commitment. Collective gratitude, kindness, and forgiveness at T1 had significant indirect effects through cognitive reappraisal at T2 and then PsyCap at T3 on satisfaction with life, state of flourishing, emotional attachment to the organization, and engagement in extra-role activities that contribute to the organization’s efficacy. This study is among the first to provide prospective data on the effects of organizational virtuousness. The results lead to a discussion of how organizations might shape a grateful, kind, and forgiving work culture using virtue-based management to achieve optimal individual and organizational functioning.

Suggested Citation

  • Henry C. Y. Ho & Wai Kai Hou & Kai-Tak POON & Angel N. M. Leung & Joyce L. Y. Kwan, 2023. "Being Virtuous Together: A One-Year Prospective Study on Organizational Virtuousness, Well-Being, and Organizational Commitment," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 521-542, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:18:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-022-10094-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-022-10094-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11482-022-10094-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11482-022-10094-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Henry C. Y. Ho & Ying Chuen Chan, 2022. "Flourishing in the Workplace: A One-Year Prospective Study on the Effects of Perceived Organizational Support and Psychological Capital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Marcel Meyer, 2018. "The Evolution and Challenges of the Concept of Organizational Virtuousness in Positive Organizational Scholarship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 245-264, November.
    3. Edward Deci & Richard Ryan, 2008. "Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: an introduction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, January.
    4. Linda Koopmans & Claire Bernaards & Vincent Hildebrandt & Stef van Buuren & Allard J. van der Beek & Henrica C.W. de Vet, 2012. "Development of an individual work performance questionnaire," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 62(1), pages 6-28, November.
    5. Xinwen Bai & Chiahuei Wu & Rui Zheng & Xiaopeng Ren, 2011. "The Psychometric Evaluation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale Using a Nationally Representative Sample of China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 183-197, April.
    6. Booth, Jonathan E. & Park, Tae-Youn & Zhu, Luke (Lei) & Beauregard, T. Alexandra & Gu, Fan & Emery, Cécile, 2018. "Prosocial response to client-instigated victimization: the roles of forgiveness and workgroup conflict," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 85632, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Michael Brown & Linda Treviño, 2014. "Do Role Models Matter? An Investigation of Role Modeling as an Antecedent of Perceived Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(4), pages 587-598, July.
    8. Irene Tsachouridi & Irene Nikandrou, 2020. "The Role of Prosocial Motives and Social Exchange in Mediating the Relationship Between Organizational Virtuousness’ Perceptions and Employee Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 535-551, October.
    9. Arménio Rego & Neuza Ribeiro & Miguel Cunha, 2010. "Perceptions of Organizational Virtuousness and Happiness as Predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(2), pages 215-235, May.
    10. Ed Diener & Derrick Wirtz & William Tov & Chu Kim-Prieto & Dong-won Choi & Shigehiro Oishi & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2010. "New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(2), pages 143-156, June.
    11. Rego, Arménio & Ribeiro, Neuza & Cunha, Miguel Pina e & Jesuino, Jorge Correia, 2011. "How happiness mediates the organizational virtuousness and affective commitment relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(5), pages 524-532, May.
    12. Keiko Otake & Satoshi Shimai & Junko Tanaka-Matsumi & Kanako Otsui & Barbara Fredrickson, 2006. "Happy People Become Happier through Kindness: A Counting Kindnesses Intervention," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 361-375, September.
    13. David Bright & Bradley Winn & Jason Kanov, 2014. "Reconsidering Virtue: Differences of Perspective in Virtue Ethics and the Positive Social Sciences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 119(4), pages 445-460, February.
    14. Zhuo Wang & Hui Pang & Jia Zhou & Yubin Ma & Zhonghou Wang, 2021. "“What if…it never ends?”: Examining challenges in primary teachers' experience during the wholly online teaching," The Journal of Educational Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 114(1), pages 89-103, January.
    15. Jean-Baptiste Pavani & Sarah Vigouroux & Jean-Luc Kop & Anne Congard & Bruno Dauvier, 2016. "Affect and Affect Regulation Strategies Reciprocally Influence Each Other in Daily Life: The Case of Positive Reappraisal, Problem-Focused Coping, Appreciation and Rumination," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 2077-2095, October.
    16. Wayne E. Baker & Nathaniel Bulkley, 2014. "Paying It Forward vs. Rewarding Reputation: Mechanisms of Generalized Reciprocity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(5), pages 1493-1510, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Irene Tsachouridi & Irene Nikandrou, 2020. "The Role of Prosocial Motives and Social Exchange in Mediating the Relationship Between Organizational Virtuousness’ Perceptions and Employee Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 535-551, October.
    2. Surendra Arjoon & Alvaro Turriago-Hoyos & Ulf Thoene, 2018. "Virtuousness and the Common Good as a Conceptual Framework for Harmonizing the Goals of the Individual, Organizations, and the Economy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 143-163, January.
    3. Hezhi Chen & Zhijia Zeng, 2023. "Seeking Pleasure is Good, but Avoiding Pain is Bad: Distinguishing Hedonic Approach from Hedonic Avoidance Orientations," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 2377-2393, October.
    4. Juliana Toro-Arias & Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & María Pilar Rodríguez-Córdoba, 2022. "Measuring Ethical Organizational Culture: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Shortened Corporate Ethical Virtues Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 551-574, March.
    5. L. Lambert & H.-A. Passmore & N. Scull & I. Al Sabah & R. Hussain, 2019. "Wellbeing Matters in Kuwait: The Alnowair’s Bareec Education Initiative," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 143(2), pages 741-763, June.
    6. Yau-De Wang & Wen-Chuan Sung, 2016. "Predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Ethical Leadership and Workplace Jealousy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 117-128, April.
    7. Berezan, Orie & Krishen, Anjala S. & Agarwal, Shaurya & Kachroo, Pushkin, 2018. "The pursuit of virtual happiness: Exploring the social media experience across generations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 455-461.
    8. Marcel Meyer, 2018. "The Evolution and Challenges of the Concept of Organizational Virtuousness in Positive Organizational Scholarship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 245-264, November.
    9. Arménio Rego & Miguel Pina e Cunha, 2012. "They Need to be Different, They Feel Happier in Authentizotic Climates," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 701-727, August.
    10. Ron Beadle, 2013. "Managerial Work in a Practice-Embodying Institution: The Role of Calling, The Virtue of Constancy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 679-690, April.
    11. Abbas Ali Abdulhassan, 2022. "The Role of Organizational Virtuousness in Reinforcement Proactive Work Behavior," Management of Organizations: Systematic Research, Sciendo, vol. 87(1), pages 1-20, June.
    12. Katsunori Sumi, 2014. "Reliability and Validity of Japanese Versions of the Flourishing Scale and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 601-615, September.
    13. Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan & Boonchai Somboonsook & Sam-ang Seubsman & Adrian Sleigh, 2012. "Happiness, Mental Health, and Socio-Demographic Associations Among a National Cohort of Thai Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(6), pages 1019-1029, December.
    14. Brodie C. Dakin & Nicholas P. Tan & Tamlin S. Conner & Brock Bastian, 2022. "The Relationship Between Prosociality, Meaning, and Happiness in Everyday Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2787-2804, August.
    15. Suparna Saha & Sanghamitra Basu & Debapratim Pandit, 2022. "Identifying Factors Influencing Perceived Quality of Life (QoL) of Indian Elderly: Case Study of Kolkata, India," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 867-907, April.
    16. Michael S. McLeod & G. Tyge Payne & Robert E. Evert, 2016. "Organizational Ethics Research: A Systematic Review of Methods and Analytical Techniques," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 429-443, March.
    17. Qian Zhang & Yun Liu, 2019. "Employees’ Environmental Protection and Charitable Donation and Ethical Leadership: An Empirical Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, June.
    18. Mario Fernando & Geoff Moore, 2015. "MacIntyrean Virtue Ethics in Business: A Cross-Cultural Comparison," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 185-202, November.
    19. Andrew Howell & Karen Buro, 2015. "Measuring and Predicting Student Well-Being: Further Evidence in Support of the Flourishing Scale and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 903-915, April.
    20. Madina Rival & Richard Major, 2018. "What Lobbying Ethics and What for? The Case of French Lobbying Consulting Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 99-116, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:18:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-022-10094-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.