Date of Award

2018

Type

Thesis

Major

Psychology

Degree Type

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Robin Snipes

Second Advisor

Phillip Bryant

Third Advisor

Brandt Smith

Abstract

The nature of work in the twenty-first century has changed substantially from that of the twentieth century. Distant and online work makes today’s workforce feel more isolated and disconnected from coworkers, while constant access to work technologies such as email, text messaging, and file sharing platforms may also lead workers to feel less connected at home as well. Workplace spirituality -including work-related opportunities to develop one’s inner life, higher senses of meaning and purpose, and interconnectedness -can serve to ameliorate the isolation and disconnection often experienced in today’s workplace. The literature reveals that workplace spirituality leads to greater job satisfaction and maybe even life satisfaction. But, is this effect constant across generations? Our research tested the hypothesis that the positive effects of workplace spirituality on both job satisfaction and life satisfaction are experienced differently among Millennials as compared to older generations. Specifically, in a survey of 224 participants, we found that while workplace spirituality has a positive effect on both job satisfaction and life satisfaction for all age groups, the impact of workplace spirituality is stronger for Millennials on at least one facet of job satisfaction compared to older generations. Implications for practice and suggestions for further research are discussed.

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