Role of Optimism on Employee Performance and Job Satisfaction

Authors

  •   Uma Sankar Mishra Associate Professor, Institute of Business and Computer Studies (IBCS), Faculty of Management Sciences, Siksha'O'Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
  •   Subhendu Patnaik Research Scholar (Corresponding Author), Institute of Business and Computer Studies (IBCS), Faculty of Management Sciences, Siksha'O'Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
  •   Bibhuti Bhusan Mishra Assistant Professor, Institute of Business and Computer Studies (IBCS), Faculty of Management Sciences, Siksha'O'Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2016/v9i6/94960

Keywords:

Optimism

, Performance, Job Satisfaction, Structural Equation Modeling

C310

, M120, M530

Paper Submission Date

, January 15, 2016, Paper sent back for Revision, April 20, Paper Acceptance Date, May 22, 2016.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the role of optimism in employee performance and job satisfaction. Optimism is a positive psychological construct popularized by Martin Seligman. An optimist person has positive expectations and follows a positive attribution style. An individual possessing the psychological resource of optimism tends to face life with a positive view. But on the other hand, those persons who are pessimistic in nature view life events negatively. This study was conducted on a sample of 346 employees from three large public sector banks situated in the Eastern part of India. Correlation, regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques were used to test the hypotheses. Results depicted that optimism is positively related to employee performance and job satisfaction. This study also supported the external validity of optimism construct with relation to performance and job satisfaction in the Indian cultural context.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2016-06-01

How to Cite

Mishra, U. S., Patnaik, S., & Mishra, B. B. (2016). Role of Optimism on Employee Performance and Job Satisfaction. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 9(6), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2016/v9i6/94960

Issue

Section

Human Resources Management

References

Alarcon, G. M., Bowling, N. A., & Khazon, S. (2013). Great expectations: A meta-analytic examination of optimism and hope. Personality and Individual Differences, 54 (7), 821-827. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2012.12.004

Austin, J. T., & Vancouver, J. B. (1996). Goal constructs in psychology: Structure, process, and content. Psychological Bulletin,120 (3),338-375. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.120.3.338

Avey, J. B., Reichard, R. J., Luthans, F., & Mhatre, K. H. (2011). Meta-analysis of the impact of positive psychological capital on employee attitudes, behaviors, and performance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 22 (2), 127-152. doi:10.1002/hrdq.20070

Bandura, A. (1995). Exercise of personal and collective efficacy in changing societies. In A. Bandura (Eds.), Self-efficacy in changing societies (pp.1-45). Cambridge, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Beaton, D. E., Bombardier, C., Guillemin, F., & Ferraz, M.B.(2000). Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine, 25 (24),3186 - 3191. doi:10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014

Buchanan, G. M., & Seligman, M. (1995). Explanatory style. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Budhwar, P. S., & Sparrow, P. R. (2002).Strategic HRM through the cultural looking glass: Mapping cognitions of British and Indian HRM managers. Organization Studies, 23 (4),599 - 638. doi:10.1177/0170840602234005

Campbell, J. P., McCloy, R. A., Oppler, S. H., & Sager, C. E. (1993). A theory of performance. In N. Schmitt & W. C. Borman (Eds.), Personnel selection in organizations (pp. 35 - 70). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1998). On the self-regulation of behavior. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (2014). Dispositional optimism. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 18 (6), 293-299. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2014.02.003

Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F.(1981). Self-consciousness and reactance. Journal of Research in Personality, 15 (1),16-29. doi:10.1016/0092-6566(81)90003-9

Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F.(1982). Control theory: A useful conceptual framework for personality - social, clinical, and health psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 92 (1),111-135. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.92.1.111

Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. S. (2002). Optimism. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 231 - 243). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Segerstrom, S. C. (2010). Optimism. Clinical Psychology Review, 30 (7), 879-889. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006

Chang, F. F. T., & Birtch, T. A. (2007). Examining the perceived causes of successful employee performance: An east-west comparison. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18 (2),232 - 248. doi:10.1080/09585190601102406

Chemers, M. M., Watson, C. B., & May, S. T. (2000). Dispositional affect and leadership effectiveness: A comparison of self-esteem, optimism, and efficacy. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26 (3), 267-277. doi:10.1177/0146167200265001

Chong, E. (2008). Managerial competency appraisal: A cross-cultural study of American and East Asian managers. Journal of Business Research, 61 (3),191 - 200. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2007.06.007

Cronbach, L.J., Gleser, G.C., Nanda, H., & Rajaratnam, N. (1972). The dependability of behavioral measurements: Theory of generalizability for scores and profiles. New York: Wiley.

Dello Russo, S. & Stoykova, P. (2015). Psychological capital intervention (PCI): A replication and extension. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 26 (3), 329 - 347. doi:10.1002/hrdq.21212

Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56 (3), 218-226. doi:10.1037//0003-066X.56.3.218

Fredrickson, B. L. (2003).Positive emotions and upward spirals in organizations. In K.S. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, & R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship (pp. 163-175). San Francisco : Berrett-Koehler.

Fredrickson, B. L., & Joiner, T. (2002). Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. Psychological Science, 13 (2), 172-175. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00431

Gupta, V., & Singh, S. (2014). Psychological capital as a mediator of the relationship between leadership and creative performance behaviors: Empirical evidence from the Indian R&D Sector. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25 (10),1373- 1394. doi:10.1080/09585192.2013.870311

Gupta, V., Surie, G., Javidan, M., & Chhokar, J. (2002).Southern Asia cluster: Where the old meets the new? Journal of World Business, 37 (1),16 - 27. doi:10.1016/S1090-9516(01)00071-2

Hackman, J.R., & Oldham, G.R. (1980). Work redesign. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Higgins, E. T. (2006). Value from hedonic experience and engagement. Psychological Review,113 (3), 439-460. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.113.3.439

Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture's consequences. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indices in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 61(1),1–55. doi:10.1080/10705519909540118

Jobin, J., Wrosch, C., & Scheier, M. F. (2014). Associations between dispositional optimism andccdiurnal cortisol in a community sample: When stress is perceived as higher than normal. Health Psychology,33 (4), 382-391. doi:10.1037/a0032736

Joreskog, K.G. & Sorbom, D. (1993). LISREL 8 user's reference guide. Chicago: IL Scientific Software.

Judge, T. A., & Bono, J. E. (2001). Relationship of core self-evaluations traits - self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability - with job satisfaction and job performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology,86 (1),80-92. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.86.1.80

Judge, T. A., & Hulin, C. L. (1993). Job satisfaction as a reflection of disposition: A multiple source causal analysis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 56 (3), 388-421. doi:10.1006/obhd.1993.1061

Judge, T. A., & Watanabe, S. (1993).Another look at the job satisfaction-life satisfaction relationship. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(6), 939. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.78.6.939

Klinger, E. (1975). Consequences of commitment to and disengagement from incentives. Psychological Review, 82(1), 1-25. doi:10.1037/h0076171

Kukla, A. (1972). Foundations of an attributional theory of performance. Psychological Review, 79 (6), 454-470. doi:10.1037/h0033494

Larson, M., & Luthans, F. (2006). Potential added value of psychological capital in predicting work attitudes. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 13 (2),75-92. doi:10.1177/10717919070130020601

Lopez, S., & Snyder, C. R. (Eds.). (2003). Positive psychological assessment: A handbook of models and measures. Washington, DC : American Psychological Association.

Luthans, F. (2002). Positive organizational behavior: Developing and managing psychological strengths. Academy of Management Executive, 16 (1),57-72. doi:10.5465/AME.2002.6640181

Luthans, F., Avey, J. B., & Patera, J. L. (2008). Experimental analysis of a web-based training intervention to develop psychological capital. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 7(2), 209 - 221. doi:10.5465/AMLE.2008.32712618

Luthans, F., Avey, J. B., Avolio, B. J., & Peterson, S. J. (2010). The development and resulting performance impact of positive psychological capital. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 21 (1),41 - 67. doi:10.1002/hrdq.20034

Luthans, F., Avey, J. B., Avolio, B. J., Norman, S. M., & Combs, G. M. (2006). Psychological capital development : Toward a micro- intervention. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 27 (3), 387-393. doi:10.1002/job.373

Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Avey, J. B., & Norman, S. M. (2007). Positive psychological capital : Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 60 (3), 541-572. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x

Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Walumbwa, F. O., & Li, W. (2005).The psychological capital of Chinese workers: Exploring the relationship with performance. Management and Organization Review, 1 (2), 247 - 269. doi:10.1111/j.1740-8784.2005.00011.x

Luthans, F., Norman, S.M., Avolio, B.J., & Avey, J.B. (2008). The mediating role of psychological capital in the supportive organizational climate-employee performance relationship. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 29 (2), 219-238. doi:10.1002/job.507

Luthans, F., Youssef, C. M., & Avolio, B. J. (2007). Psychological capital: Developing the human competitive edge. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Luthans, F., Youssef-Morgan, C. M., & Avolio, B. J. (2015). Psychological capital and beyond. Oxford, New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Meevissen, Y. M., Peters, M. L., & Alberts, H. J. (2011). Become more optimistic by imagining a best possible self: Effects of a two week intervention. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 42 (3), 371-378. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.02.012.

Miller, J. (2003). Culture and agency: Implications for psychological theories of motivation and social development. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives of the self (pp.76 - 116). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Peterson, C. (2000). The future of optimism. American Psychologist, 55(1),44-55. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.44

Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (1984). Causal explanations as a risk factor for depression: Theory and evidence. Psychological Review, 91 (3), 347-374. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.91.3.347

Peterson, C., Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. (1995). Learned helplessness: A theory for the age of personal control. New York, NY, USA: Oxford University Press.

Peterson, R. M., Dibrell, C., & Pett, T. L. (2002). Performance perspectives of Western European, Japanese, and U.S. countries: Where do they lie? Journal of World Business, 37 (4), 245 - 255. doi:10.1016/S1090-9516(02)00091-3

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. C., Lee, J., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88 (5),879 - 903. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879

Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1982). Cognition, affect, and self - regulation. In M.S. Clark & S.T. Fiske (Eds.), Affect and cognition (pp.157-183). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Inc.

Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S.(1983). Self-directed attention and the comparison of self with standards. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 19 (3), 205-222. doi:10.1016/0022-1031(83)90038-0

Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985). Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4 (3), 219-247. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.4.3.219

Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1992). Effects of optimism on psychological and physical well being: Theoretical overview and empirical update. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 16(2), 201-228. doi:10.1007/BF01173489

Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the life orientation test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67 (6),1063-1078. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.67.6.1063

Schneider, S. L. (2001). In search of realistic optimism: Meaning, knowledge, and warm fuzziness. American Psychologist, 56 (3),250-263. doi:10.1O37/0003-066X.56.3.250

Schulman, P. (1999).Applying learned optimism to increase sales productivity. Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, 19 (1), 31-37. doi:10.1080/08853134.1999.10754157

Seligman, M. (1998). Learned optimism. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Seligman, M. E. (2006). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. New York: Vintage.

Seligman, M. E. P., & Schulman, P. (1986). Explanatory style as a predictor of productivity and quitting among life insurance sales agents. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50 (4), 832-838. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.50.4.832

Shekhawat, A. (2012). The importance of soft skills training in the curriculum of higher education. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 5 (8), 28-36. doi:10.17010/2012/v5i8/60247

Shifren, K., & Hooker, K. (1995). Stability and change in optimism: A study among spouse caregivers. Experimental Aging Research, 21(1), 59-76. doi:10.1080/03610739508254268

Singh, I., & Jha, A. (2013). Anxiety, optimism and academic achievement among students of private medical and engineering colleges : A comparative study. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 3 (1), 222-233. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jedp.v3n1p222

Wright, T. A. (2003). Positive organizational behavior. An idea whose time has truly come. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24(4),437-442. doi:10.1002/job.197

Wright, T. A. (2005). The role of “happiness†in organizational research: Past, present and future directions. In P. L. Perrewe & D. C. Ganster (Eds.), Research in occupational stress and well-being (pp.221-264). Amsterdam: JAI.

Wunderley, L. J., Reddy, W. P., & Dember, W. N. (1998). Optimism and pessimism in business leaders. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28 (9),751-760 doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1998.tb01729.x

Yadav, B.S, & Rokade, V. (2013).Managing attrition in life insurance sector : With special focus on Employees of HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 3 (4), 236-237.

Youssef, C. M., & Luthans, F. (2007). Positive organizational behavior in the workplace the impact of hope, optimism, and resilience. Journal of Management, 33 (5), 774-800. doi:10.1177/0149206307305562