The Polish adaptation of the engagement in meaningful activities survey (EMAS)
Keywords:
engagement; meaningful activities; Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS; B. Goldberg, Brintnell, & J. Goldberg), which measures engagement in meaningful activities, understood as activities that serve a purpose significant from a personal or cultural perspective. We present definitions of key concepts, previous research related to the survey, and preliminary research on the Polish version of the survey. The study was conducted on a sample of 237 individuals: employees of cultural institutions, care associations, and corporations as well as teachers working in special schools and high schools. The results indicate a high reliability of the tool (Cronbach’s α = .88). They also reveal relations between engagement in meaningful activities and variables such as meaningfulness of work (r = .65) and job satisfaction (r = .65), and differences across professions in the level of engagement in meaningful activities.
References
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Czerw, A., & Czarnota-Bojarska, J. (2016). Dopasowanie człowiek – środowisko i postawa wobec pracy jako motywatory zachowań organizacyjnych [Man–environment fit and attitude towards work as motivators of organizational behaviors]. Psychologia Społeczna, 1(36), 8-19.
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Dutra, S. T., Eakman, A. M., & Shelly, C. L. (2016).Psychosocial characteristics of student veterans with service-related disabilities: Implications for further research and occupational therapy involvement. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 32(2), 146-166.
Eakman, A. M. (2011). Convergent validity of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey in a college sample. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 31(1), 23-32.
Eakman, A. M., Carlson M. E., & Clark F. A. (2010). Factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey for older adults. Occupation, Participation and Health, 30(3), 111-121.
Fernandez-Ballesteros, R., Zammarron, M. D., & Ruiz, M. A. (2001). The contribution of socio-demographic and psychosocial factors to life satisfaction. Aging and Society, 21, 25-43.
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Juczyński, Z. (2009). Narzędzia pomiaru w promocji i psychologii zdrowia [Measurement instruments in health promotion and psychology]. Warsaw, Poland: Psychological Test Laboratory of the Polish Psychological Association.
Klamut, R. (2012). Typy struktury sensu życia a treści celów wybieranych do realizacji [Types of the structure of meaning in life and the contents of goals chosen for pursuit]. Roczniki Psychologiczne, 15(4), 139-158.
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Mądrzycki, T. (2002). Osobowość jako system tworzący i realizujący plany [Personality as a system creating and implementing plans]. Gdańsk: University of Gdańsk Press.
McClelland, D. C. (1986). Human motivation. Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Co.
Meesters, J. (2009). The meaning of activities in the dwelling and residential environment. Amsterdam: IOS Press.
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Pushkar, D., Arbuckle, T., Conway, M., Chaikelson, J., & Maag, U. (1997). Everyday activity parameters and competence in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 14, 600-609.
Richardson, J. C., Moore, A. J., Bernard, M., Jordan, K. P., & Sim, J. (2015). Living well with chronic pain in later life: The role and meaning of activity and involvement. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 39, 200-213.
Rosso, B. D., Dekas, K. H., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2010). On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration and review. Research in Organizational Behavior, 30, 91-127.
Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi-sample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25, 293-315.
Soane, E., Schantz, A., Alfes, K., Truss, C., Rees, C., & Gatenby, M. (2013). The association of meaningfulness, well-being, and engagement with absenteeism: A moderated mediation model. Human Resource Management, 52, 441-456.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38(5), 1442-1465.
Tokarz A., & Trzebińska, M., (2012). Współdziałanie w przedsiębiorstwie jako własność synergiczna – rola informacji zwrotnej [Cooperation in the enterprise as a synergic property]. In Z. Uchnast (Ed.), Synergia a dobro wspólne. Wybrane zagadnienia z psychologii kierowania [Synergy and the common good: Selected issues of management psychology] (pp. 197-204). Lublin: Scientific Society of the Catholic University of Lublin.
Wrzesniewski, A. (2003). Finding positive meaning in work. In K. S. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, & R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship (pp. 296-308). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Wrzesniewski, A., McCoulay, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, career, and calling: People’s relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 33, 21-33.
Yeoman, R. (2014). Conceptualising meaningful work as a fundamental human need. Journal of Business Ethics, 125, 235-251.
Yerxa, E. J. (1998). Health and the human spirit for occupation. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 412-418.
Zalewska, A. M. (2003). Skala Satysfakcji z Pracy – pomiar poznawczego aspektu ogólnego zadowolenia z pracy [Work Satisfaction Scale – The measurement of the cognitive aspect of general satisfaction with work]. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Psychologica, 7, 49-61.
Zeidler, W. (2011). Zadowolenie z życia: inspiracje i próba konceptualizacji [Satisfaction with life: Inspirations and an attempt at conceptualization]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 54(4), 323-342.
Życińska, J., & Januszek, M. (2011). Test Sensu Życia (Purpose in Life Test, PIL) J. C. Crumbaugha i L.T. Maholicka: analiza psychometryczna [Purpose in Life Test (PIL) by J. C. Crumbaugh and L. T. Maholick: A psychometric analysis]. Czasopismo Psychologiczne, 17(1), 133-141.
Central Statistical Office of Poland, GUS (2014). Kobiety i mężczyźni na rynku pracy [Women and men in the labor market]. Warsaw, Poland: Central Statistical Office of Poland. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/Agnieszka/Downloads/pw_kobiety_i_mezczyzni_na_rynku_pracy.pdf
Clark, F., Parham, D., Carlson, M. E., Frank, G., Jackson, J., Pierce, D., Wolfe, R. J., & Zemke, R. (1991). Occupational science: Academic innovation in the service of occupational therapy’s future. American Journalof Occupational Therapy, 45, 300-310.
Czerw, A., & Czarnota-Bojarska, J. (2016). Dopasowanie człowiek – środowisko i postawa wobec pracy jako motywatory zachowań organizacyjnych [Man–environment fit and attitude towards work as motivators of organizational behaviors]. Psychologia Społeczna, 1(36), 8-19.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.
Dutra, S. T., Eakman, A. M., & Shelly, C. L. (2016).Psychosocial characteristics of student veterans with service-related disabilities: Implications for further research and occupational therapy involvement. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 32(2), 146-166.
Eakman, A. M. (2011). Convergent validity of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey in a college sample. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 31(1), 23-32.
Eakman, A. M., Carlson M. E., & Clark F. A. (2010). Factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey for older adults. Occupation, Participation and Health, 30(3), 111-121.
Fernandez-Ballesteros, R., Zammarron, M. D., & Ruiz, M. A. (2001). The contribution of socio-demographic and psychosocial factors to life satisfaction. Aging and Society, 21, 25-43.
Frankl, V. (1959/2009). Człowiek w poszukiwaniu sensu [Man’s search for meaning]. Warsaw, Poland: Czarna Owca.
Goldberg, B., Brintnell, E. S., & Goldberg J. (2002). The relationship between engagement in meaningful activities and quality of life in persons disabled by mental illness. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 18(2), 17-44.
Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1975). Development of job diagnostic survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 60, 159-170.
Juczyński, Z. (2009). Narzędzia pomiaru w promocji i psychologii zdrowia [Measurement instruments in health promotion and psychology]. Warsaw, Poland: Psychological Test Laboratory of the Polish Psychological Association.
Klamut, R. (2012). Typy struktury sensu życia a treści celów wybieranych do realizacji [Types of the structure of meaning in life and the contents of goals chosen for pursuit]. Roczniki Psychologiczne, 15(4), 139-158.
Lawford, H. L., & Ramey, H. L. (2015). “Now I know I can make a difference”: Generativity and activity engagement as predictors of meaning making in adolescents and emerging adults. Developmental Psychology, 51(10), 1395-1406.
Lawton, M. P. (1993). Meanings of activity. In J. R. Kelly (Eds.), Activity and aging: Staying involved in later life (pp. 25-39). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Mahoney, J. L., Larson, R. W., Eccles, J. S., & Lord, H. (2005). Organized activities as developmental contexts for children and adolescents. In J. L. Mahoney, R. W. Larson, & J. S. Eccles (Eds.), Organized activities ascontexts for development: Extracurricular activities, after- -school and community program (pp. 3-22). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Małopolska, E. (2015). Strategie pracy emocjonalnej u telemarketerów i operatorów telefonu alarmowego a cechy temperamentu i znaczenie pracy oraz jej właściwości [Strategies of emotional work in telemarketers and emergency phone operators as related to temperamental traits as well as the meaning and characteristics of work]. (Unpublished master’s thesis, written under the supervision of A. Tokarz). The Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
May, D. R., Gilson, R. L., & Harter, L.M. (2004). The psychological conditions of meaningfulness, safety, and availability and the engagement of the human spirit at work. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 77, 11-37.
Mądrzycki, T. (2002). Osobowość jako system tworzący i realizujący plany [Personality as a system creating and implementing plans]. Gdańsk: University of Gdańsk Press.
McClelland, D. C. (1986). Human motivation. Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Co.
Meesters, J. (2009). The meaning of activities in the dwelling and residential environment. Amsterdam: IOS Press.
Michaelson, C., Pratt, M. G., Grant, A M., & Dunn, C. P. (2014). Meaningful work: Connecting business ethics and organization studies. Journal of Business Ethics, 121, 77-90.
Pushkar, D., Arbuckle, T., Conway, M., Chaikelson, J., & Maag, U. (1997). Everyday activity parameters and competence in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 14, 600-609.
Richardson, J. C., Moore, A. J., Bernard, M., Jordan, K. P., & Sim, J. (2015). Living well with chronic pain in later life: The role and meaning of activity and involvement. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 39, 200-213.
Rosso, B. D., Dekas, K. H., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2010). On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration and review. Research in Organizational Behavior, 30, 91-127.
Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi-sample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25, 293-315.
Soane, E., Schantz, A., Alfes, K., Truss, C., Rees, C., & Gatenby, M. (2013). The association of meaningfulness, well-being, and engagement with absenteeism: A moderated mediation model. Human Resource Management, 52, 441-456.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38(5), 1442-1465.
Tokarz A., & Trzebińska, M., (2012). Współdziałanie w przedsiębiorstwie jako własność synergiczna – rola informacji zwrotnej [Cooperation in the enterprise as a synergic property]. In Z. Uchnast (Ed.), Synergia a dobro wspólne. Wybrane zagadnienia z psychologii kierowania [Synergy and the common good: Selected issues of management psychology] (pp. 197-204). Lublin: Scientific Society of the Catholic University of Lublin.
Wrzesniewski, A. (2003). Finding positive meaning in work. In K. S. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, & R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship (pp. 296-308). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Wrzesniewski, A., McCoulay, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, career, and calling: People’s relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 33, 21-33.
Yeoman, R. (2014). Conceptualising meaningful work as a fundamental human need. Journal of Business Ethics, 125, 235-251.
Yerxa, E. J. (1998). Health and the human spirit for occupation. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 412-418.
Zalewska, A. M. (2003). Skala Satysfakcji z Pracy – pomiar poznawczego aspektu ogólnego zadowolenia z pracy [Work Satisfaction Scale – The measurement of the cognitive aspect of general satisfaction with work]. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Psychologica, 7, 49-61.
Zeidler, W. (2011). Zadowolenie z życia: inspiracje i próba konceptualizacji [Satisfaction with life: Inspirations and an attempt at conceptualization]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 54(4), 323-342.
Życińska, J., & Januszek, M. (2011). Test Sensu Życia (Purpose in Life Test, PIL) J. C. Crumbaugha i L.T. Maholicka: analiza psychometryczna [Purpose in Life Test (PIL) by J. C. Crumbaugh and L. T. Maholick: A psychometric analysis]. Czasopismo Psychologiczne, 17(1), 133-141.
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