The Effect of Positive Psychology Group Training on Nurses' Job Motivation

Abstract

Background: Due to the nature of nurses’ work, they play a crucial role in promoting community health, and job motivation is one of the key factors influencing the quality of their work. The impact of positive psychology on organizational success and job performance has been demonstrated in several studies. This research is significant because it provides crucial insights into actionable strategies for organizations seeking to enhance employee well-being, productivity, and overall competitive advantage. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group training in positive psychology on nurses' job motivation. Methods: This non-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2021 at Imam Reza Hospital Complex in Kermanshah, Iran. The study sample included 64 nurses who met the inclusion criteria; they were selected by simple random sampling and equally divided into control and intervention groups. The intervention group received seven weekly 120-minute online group positive-psychology counseling sessions. The data collection tool was the Herzberg Job Motivation Questionnaire, which was completed by all participants as a self-report before the intervention, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 and appropriate statistical tests (independent t-test, Pearson correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test). Results: The assessment and comparison of nurses' job motivation before, immediately after, and one month following the intervention revealed no statistically significant differences in overall job motivation or any of its dimensions within the control group (P > 0.05). In the intervention group, however, job motivation was significantly lower before the intervention compared with both immediately after (P ≤ 0.001) and one month after the intervention (P ≤ 0.001). Moreover, job motivation immediately after the intervention was significantly higher than one month later (P < 0.02). Based on the findings, job motivation and its dimensions did not differ significantly between the intervention and control groups at baseline, but differences were significant both immediately and one month after the intervention. The mean score of job motivation and all its dimensions (except salary and wages) in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: The results indicate that positive psychology training was effective in increasing nurses' job motivation. Therefore, implementing programs that focus on positivity as a strategy to improve nurses' performance and the quality of care appears useful and necessary.