Abstract
BackgroundHappiness of people can affect their daily functioning and work performance. There is limited research assessing the happiness levels of various disciplines within the health care industry. This article is the first attempt to evaluate the happiness levels of private sector physiotherapists in South Africa.ObjectivesResearch in happiness and physiotherapy studies are two research areas that are not associated with one another in a global perspective. The objective of this study was to assess the happiness levels of private sector physiotherapists in South Africa.MethodsA hypothesised model was statistically tested using a quantitative questionnaire, which was completed online. The target population of this study were all private sector physiotherapists who are members of the South African Society of Physiotherapy. A total of 395 respondents participated in the study.ResultsThis study confirmed that factors such as influence, social relations, life balance, optimism, work and leisure are all positively associated with the happiness levels of private sector physiotherapists in South Africa. These variables are recommended as key focus areas for physiotherapy practice owners to address, in order to positively affect the happiness levels of all people in their workplace.ConclusionThe study concludes the following: if happiness becomes a priority, then owners of physiotherapy practices need to generate a workforce who are more productive, demonstrate greater collaboration with colleagues and patients, are more positively energised, are less absent and are more loyal to the practice.Clinical ImplicationsThe contribution of this study is that it highlights the importance of managing staff in private physiotherapy practices in a holistic manner.
Highlights
Researchers of positive psychology have progressively increased the awareness of individual happiness studies and their benefits to society (Flynn & MacLeod 2015)
Despite the variance in happiness definitions, research confirms that an increase in individual happiness is advantageous to the individual and enables societies to function better, thereby supporting the notion of incorporating aspects of happiness when formulating economic policy (Flynn & MacLeod 2015; Guzi & De Pedraza García 2015; Powdthavee 2007)
The comparison theory relates to the degree to which happiness is dependent on the comparisons between the standards of quality of life and the perceived life circumstances, whereas Maslow’s needs theory states that as more needs of an individual are met, the happier the individual will be (Aydin 2012; Diener & Lucas 2000; Schyns 1998; Ye et al 2015)
Summary
Researchers of positive psychology have progressively increased the awareness of individual happiness studies and their benefits to society (Flynn & MacLeod 2015). Hofstede’s dimensions are measurements of a country’s ‘cultural style’ that were constructed based on the basic problems that all societies could be faced with (Harvey 2011; Minkov & Hofstede 2011). Theories such as the comparison theory and Maslow’s needs theory support the fact that culture is linked to happiness or subjective well-being (Diener & Lucas 2000; Schyns 1998; Ye et al 2015).
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