Happiness at Work among Public Relations Practitioners in Spain

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 27;19(7):3987. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19073987.

Abstract

Happiness at work is a consolidated topic. Perhaps the PR and communication sector, often at the forefront of organizational change, is one of the industries where most progress has been made in this regard. The objective of the present study was to carry out an exploratory analysis on the extent to which PR is a profession that enables the development of happiness in the workplace. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of PR professionals in Spain (N = 256). The questionnaire consisted of the PERMA-profiler, a model where work relationships, engagement, positive affections/emotions, vital sense/purpose and achievements are measured. The results show a remarkable level of happiness among surveyed professionals, especially among women, who obtained higher scores on all five factors, although with a statistically significant difference only in two of the five factors in PERMA (Engagement and Relationships). Neither age nor the hierarchical level of the respondent had any incidence. Therefore, PR can be a profession that notably enables human flourishing at work, even more so among women.

Keywords: communication consultants; corporate communication; engagement at work; happiness; job satisfaction; organizational development; public relations; purpose; well-being at work.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Happiness*
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Public Relations
  • Spain
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace / psychology