Associations of social skills and social support with well-being related outcomes at work and in higher education. Heart rate variability, engagement, and burnout
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
University of Oulu, IT 115, Zoom link https://oulu.zoom.us/s/69836628496
Topic of the dissertation
Associations of social skills and social support with well-being related outcomes at work and in higher education. Heart rate variability, engagement, and burnout
Doctoral candidate
Master of Education Heli Kiema-Junes
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Education, Research center for psychology and educational psychology
Subject of study
Educational psychology
Opponent
Professor Katariina Salmela-Aro, University of Helsinki
Custos
Professor Mirka Hintsanen, University of Oulu
Social skills and social support are associated with higher work engagement and lower risk of burnout
The costs of growing work stress and burnout have attracted attention to enhancing mental health at work and in study life. According to this dissertation, developing social skills and promoting social support may be beneficial for work and education organizations. At the moment, especially the changes due to COVID-19 situation cause stress and burnout for many people, which emphasizes the role of social interaction and social support for psychological well-being.
Rapid changes in work life and the growth of work intensification increase mental demands. Work and education organization are still calling for resilient and successful employees in order to attain optimal performance. Expected accomplishment requires investments in psychological well-being.
This research focused on examining social skills and social support that are significant sources of resources for both work and study related well-being. Work engagement refers to positive motivational and emotional state at work and employee experiencing work engagement, is sincerely happy and excited about work and committed to organization.
Work engagement and burnout are also examined among higher education students because student well-being predicts later well-being at work.
Results showed that good social skills were associated with higher heart rate variability, higher study engagement and lower study burnout. High heart rate variability can be demonstrated as a feeling of relaxation. Social support in private life and at work is linked to higher work engagement.
Before giving practical implications, further studies, such as longitudinal and intervention studies, are needed to support these results.
The research data consists of ten client-counselor pairs, 351 university students and approximately 5300 employees. The data of university students was collected in University of Oulu and the data of employees is part of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study. We used video analysis, large survey data and psychophysiological measurement in our study.
Rapid changes in work life and the growth of work intensification increase mental demands. Work and education organization are still calling for resilient and successful employees in order to attain optimal performance. Expected accomplishment requires investments in psychological well-being.
This research focused on examining social skills and social support that are significant sources of resources for both work and study related well-being. Work engagement refers to positive motivational and emotional state at work and employee experiencing work engagement, is sincerely happy and excited about work and committed to organization.
Work engagement and burnout are also examined among higher education students because student well-being predicts later well-being at work.
Results showed that good social skills were associated with higher heart rate variability, higher study engagement and lower study burnout. High heart rate variability can be demonstrated as a feeling of relaxation. Social support in private life and at work is linked to higher work engagement.
Before giving practical implications, further studies, such as longitudinal and intervention studies, are needed to support these results.
The research data consists of ten client-counselor pairs, 351 university students and approximately 5300 employees. The data of university students was collected in University of Oulu and the data of employees is part of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study. We used video analysis, large survey data and psychophysiological measurement in our study.
Last updated: 1.3.2023