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Finding Meaning at Work: The Role of Inspiring and Funny YouTube Videos on Work-Related Well-Being

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  • Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles

    (Chapman University)

  • Diana Rieger

    (University of Mannheim)

  • Winston Connor

    (University of Arkansas)

Abstract

Watching online videos on social media is a common activity in today’s digital age, but its’ impact on employee well-being at work has not been investigated yet. The current study tried to fill this gap by investigating the role hedonic and eudaimonic online videos play on employee’s stress levels and well-being at work. An online experiment with 200 full time employees in the US was conducted exploring the role of inspiring affect and positive affect on three distinct well-being outcomes: subjective well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being at the workplace. A path model suggests unique effects for inspiring videos on indicators of subjective (vitality), psychological (meaning at work) and social (relatedness at work) well-being. In addition, appreciating the good things in life mediated the relationship between inspiring affect and meaning and relatedness at work. Furthermore, employees generally felt less stressed after watching any type of online video (including a non-entertaining control video), but felt the highest energy surge after watching an elevating video. Implications about the role of online videos for employees’ well-being are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles & Diana Rieger & Winston Connor, 2019. "Finding Meaning at Work: The Role of Inspiring and Funny YouTube Videos on Work-Related Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 619-640, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10902-018-9959-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-9959-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kennon Sheldon & Sonja Lyubomirsky, 2006. "Achieving Sustainable Gains in Happiness: Change Your Actions, not Your Circumstances," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 55-86, March.
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    3. Joseph Chancellor & Kristin Layous & Sonja Lyubomirsky, 2015. "Recalling Positive Events at Work Makes Employees Feel Happier, Move More, but Interact Less: A 6-Week Randomized Controlled Intervention at a Japanese Workplace," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 871-887, August.
    4. Veronika Huta & Richard Ryan, 2010. "Pursuing Pleasure or Virtue: The Differential and Overlapping Well-Being Benefits of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(6), pages 735-762, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexandra Francina Janneke Klijn & Maria Tims & Evgenia I. Lysova & Svetlana N. Khapova, 2021. "Personal Energy at Work: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-49, December.
    2. Deepika Mishra & Natasha Tageja, 2022. "Cyberslacking for Coping Stress? Exploring the Role of Mindfulness as Personal Resource," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 56-67, December.
    3. Mengke Wang & Zengzhao Chen, 2022. "Laugh before You Study: Does Watching Funny Videos before Study Facilitate Learning?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Binghai Sun & Hongteng Guo & Luyun Xu & Fujun Ding, 2022. "How Does Teachers’ Psychological Capital Influence Workplace Well-Being? A Moderated Mediation Model of Ego-Resiliency and Work-Meaning Cognition," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    5. Joschka Gellmers & Nanxi Yan, 2023. "Digital Leisure Engagement and Positive Outcomes in the Workplace: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Lena Frischlich & Lindsay Hahn & Diana Rieger, 2021. "The Promises and Pitfalls of Inspirational Media: What do We Know, and Where do We Go from Here?," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 162-166.
    7. Pavlína Honsová, 2024. "Meaning-Centered Workplace Interventions," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2024(1), pages 67-83.

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