Authenticity and well‐being in the workplace: a mediation model

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between authenticity at work and well‐being. First, the relationship between authenticity at work and hedonic and eudemonic well‐being indexes is assessed. Second, the mediating role of meaning of work in the relationship between authenticity at work and subjective well‐being at work is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 360 managers from public organizations completed self‐reported questionnaires. Multiple hierarchical regressions were used to assess the hypotheses.

Findings

Cognitive and behavioral components of authenticity at work explained a significant proportion of variance in each hedonic and eudemonic well‐being indexes. Authenticity is positively associated with well‐being at work. Moreover, meaning of work is a partial mediator of the relationship between authenticity and subjective well‐being at work.

Practical implications

The results suggest that meaning of work is a mechanism in the relationship between authenticity and subjective well‐being at work. The study highlighted a growing need to promote authenticity within organizations since it has been associated with public managers' well‐being.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study showing the positive relationship between authenticity and well‐being in the workplace amongst public organizations managers. It sheds a very new light on the importance of authenticity in work settings and on how it could be linked to meaningfulness in managerial roles.

Citation

Ménard, J. and Brunet, L. (2011), "Authenticity and well‐being in the workplace: a mediation model", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 331-346. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941111124854