A Framework for Conceiving of Job-related Affective Wellbeing

Abstract

Beginning with the nature of happiness, the philosophical roots of job-related affect are explored to inform contemporary understandings of the phenomenon. Various disciplines, theories, models and schools of thought are contextualised and related to job-related affective wellbeing. Seminal constructs of affective wellbeing are identified, along with issues involved in developing an integrated model of affective wellbeing in the workplace. A synthesis of the literature is given using a tripartite heuristic frame- work comprising categories of Dispositional, Activity and Telic. Each category ex- plains the tenets of the most influential theories and debates their veracity. Finally, the key theoretical developments are integrated to provide linkages between the concep- tual bases of these constructs.