Exploring the Effectiveness of Self-and Other-Focused Happiness: The Moderating Role of Job Resources

Yuping Xu,1 Yanyi Huang,1 Lin Sun,2 Jing Yang1 1School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2School of History, Culture and Tourism, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lin Sun, School of History, Culture and Tourism, Guangxi Normal University, No. 1 Wangcheng, Xiufeng District, Guilin, People’s Republic of China, Email 15078364886@163.comPurpose: This paper aims to redefine happiness goals and explore the conditions and mechanisms through which these redefined happiness goals influence work-related outcomes.Methods: The study developed and validated scales for self-focused happiness and other-focused happiness through exploratory factor analyses of 244 employees and confirmatory factor analyses of 300 employees. The proposed theoretical model was subsequently tested using a time-lagged analysis with data from 556 supervisor-employee dyads.Results: The findings provide strong evidence for the categorization of happiness goals into self-focused happiness and other-focused happiness. Furthermore, both self-focused and other-focused happiness significantly contribute to work-related vigor, subsequently influencing employee creativity. Additionally, the impact of these happiness goals on vigor and creativity is contingent upon the availability of job resources.Conclusion: This study highlights the substantial role of self-focused and other-focused happiness in enhancing employee vigor and creativity. However, the extent of these effects depends on the level of available job resources. These outcomes carry notable implications for the fields of positive psychology, positive organizational behavior, and creativity.Keywords: self-focused happiness, other-focused happiness, work-related vigor, job resources, creativity