Flourishing in New Zealand Workers: Associations With Lifestyle Behaviors, Physical Health, Psychosocial, and Work-Related Indicators

J Occup Environ Med. 2015 Sep;57(9):973-83. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000508.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associations of flourishing among a large sample of New Zealand workers.

Methods: A categorical diagnosis of flourishing was applied to data from the Sovereign Wellbeing Index, a nationally representative sample of adults in paid employment (n = 5549) containing various lifestyle, physical, psychosocial, and work-related indicators.

Results: One in four New Zealand workers were categorized as flourishing. Being older and married, reporting greater income, financial security, physical health, autonomy, strengths awareness and use, work-life balance, job satisfaction, participation in the Five Ways to Well-being, volunteering, and feeling appreciated by others were all positively associated with worker flourishing independent of sociodemographics.

Conclusions: Flourishing is a useful additional indicator for evaluating the prevalence, and identifying the drivers, of employee well-being. Employers may benefit from promoting these indicators among staff.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Employment / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Life Style*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New Zealand
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires