Journaling as a workplace wellness program

Abstract

Employee wellness programs are a tool that organizations can use to increase employee psychological well-being, lower absenteeism, and increase productivity (Kelloway & Day, 2005). The following study investigates journaling as a workplace wellness program. More specifically, it investigated the difference between journaling about negative versus positive events and its subsequent impact on job satisfaction and stress level change scores. The researcher hypothesized that there would be a significant difference between the positive and negative group in their job satisfaction and stress change scores. To investigate the hypothesis a true experimental design was utilized (N = 20) with a sample of non-instructional staff from a Midwestern University. Results from the study did not find a significant difference between positive and negative journaling groups and their change scores in job satisfaction and stress. A post-hoc analysis showed that the negative journaling group had a significant change in stress scores following the intervention.