Background: The worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is generating drastic social and economic changes that are affecting workers’ physical and mental health (Brooks et al., 2020). In light of this issue, it is crucial to explore new pathways to cultivate meaning and wellbeing at work (Steger et al., 2012), and understand how workers in different settings (i.e., telework vs office-based work) may benefit from such pathways. On the context of the “H-WORK” project, we intend to validate a measurement model of relevant variables impacting mental health during COVID-19.
Research Questions: The aim is to explore the mechanism through which meaningful work promotes wellbeing, comparing a theoretical model between teleworkers and office-based workers. We hypothesize that strengths use will mediate between meaningful work and work engagement and mental health, and meaningful work influences strengths use through strengths knowledge.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size: The sample is composed of 798 employees who belong to organizations of different sizes, sectors, countries (Spain and Latin American countries), and work settings. Data was gathered during the pandemic lockdown month of April 2020.
Design: Structural Equation Modelling was conducted to test the relations in the hypothesized model. Furthermore, our hypothesized model was tested for invariance among workers from different settings to observe possible differences.
Results: Results show that meaningful work has a positive association to work engagement and mental health through strengths use, and the link between meaningful work and strengths use is mediated by strengths knowledge. Additionally, effect sizes between the variables were stronger in teleworkers than office-based workers.
Scientific contribution: Results shed light on new pathways through which workers’ may achieve greater meaning of their work by cultivating knowledge, understanding and use of their own personal strengths as an effective and novel pathway to foster wellbeing and mental health at work.