Positive Organizational Practices, Life Satisfaction, and Psychological Capital in the Public and Private Sectors

Aiste Dirzyte,Aleksandras Patapas

doi:10.3390/su14010488

Abstract

Public and private sector employees confronted stressful life circumstances that affected the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, new knowledge on possible psychological and organizational resources is needed. This study aimed to explore positive organizational practices, psychological capital, and life satisfaction of employees in the public and private sectors. The survey applied the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire—PCQ-24, validated in the Lithuanian population (the Lith-PCQ-21), and the Positive Organizational Practices Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 582 employees, including 443 public sector and 139 private sector employees. The respondents’ mean age was 42.0981 years (SD = 13.23083). The CFA results confirmed the six-factor structure of positive organizational practices, χ2 = 270,884.785; Df = 406; CFI = 0.996; TLI = 0.996; NFI = 0.995; RMSEA = 0.074 [0.070–0.078]; SRMR = 0.043, the four-factor structure of psychological capital, χ2 = 32,780.109; Df = 190; CFI = 0.983; TLI = 0.980; NFI = 0.978; RMSEA = 0.082 [0.076–0.088]; SRMR = 0.067, and one factor structure of life satisfaction, χ2 = 10,588.246; Df = 10; CFI = 0.999; TLI = 0.999; NFI = 0.999; RMSEA = 0.022 [0.000–0.066]; SRMR = 0.014. The findings revealed that private sector employees demonstrated higher scores of dignity, support, care, forgiveness, and overall positive organizational practices than public sector employees. Private sector employees demonstrated higher optimism scores than public sector employees, and public sector employees demonstrated higher self-efficacy scores than private sector employees. Male employees demonstrated significantly higher scores on dignity, meaning, and forgiveness than females. Significant positive correlations were found between age and resilience, care and age, care and number of working years, care and number of working years in the current organization. Psychological capital mediated the link between positive organizational practices and life satisfaction. Positive organizational practices were linked to life satisfaction and psychological capital in both employees’ groups, but the features of links were distinctive in the public and private sectors. These results signify the importance of positive organizational practices and psychological capital for the life satisfaction of employees.

Highlights

IntroductionPublic and private sector employees encountered stressful circumstances that impacted the world due to the COVID-19 [1]
The findings revealed that public sector employees differed from private sector employees: private sector employees demonstrated higher scores of dignity, support, care, forgiveness, and overall positive organizational practices than public sector employees, but no significant differences between the groups were found in meaning and inspiration
No significant differences between public and private sector employees were observed in hope, resilience, or overall psychological capital and life satisfaction scores

Summary

Introduction

Public and private sector employees encountered stressful circumstances that impacted the world due to the COVID-19 [1]. The initial research on the harm of the pandemic reveals an increase in the rates of unsatisfactory psychological wellbeing [2,3], including tense workplace responses [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. New knowledge on possible psychological and organizational resources to improve the wellbeing of employees is needed. Sustainability is described in terms of the ecological and socio-economic environment and enhancing the wellbeing of every human being [12,13].

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Discussion

Conclusion