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Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs
Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613968531456000 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van der Walt, Maria Magdalena |
| author2 | Van der Bank, Francois |
| author_browse | Van der Bank, Francois Van der Walt, Maria Magdalena |
| author_facet | Van der Bank, Francois Van der Walt, Maria Magdalena |
| author_sort | Van der Walt, Maria Magdalena |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132358 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:34.165Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132358 Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs Van der Walt, Maria Magdalena Van der Bank, Francois Griesel, Maria Magdalena Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology. Work -- Psychological aspects Meaning (Psychology) Job satisfaction -- Religious aspects Workplace -- Religious aspects Organizational culture -- Religious aspects Religion and psychology UCTD Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. van der Walt, M. 2025. Factors Contributing to a Sense of Purpose in the Workplace: The Role of Religious Beliefs. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/975bb0dd-e2b6-4e6f-8f4b-a76ff5a3d4de ENGLISH SUMMARY: Purpose, defined as the subjective experience of having a system of overarching valued goals or aims that contribute to one’s sense of direction or intentionality in life, plays a significant role in creating meaning in life. It is a concept that is increasingly recognised as vital to individuals’ wellbeing and overall organisational success. Research indicates that a sense of purpose in the workplace enhances job satisfaction and performance while reducing turnover and absenteeism, creating more positive and productive work environments. Among the factors shaping individuals’ sense of purpose, personal values and beliefs stand out as particularly instrumental. Within this realm, religious beliefs, rooted in an individual's perception of reality and shaped by their unique worldview, emerge as a significant source of purpose. Research suggests that religious beliefs can provide individuals with a framework to make sense of their reality, align their work with a greater mission and derive meaning even in the face of challenges such as job insecurity and decreased work engagement. Although the idea of purpose is an age-old concept, it has only fairly recently been adopted as a construct in Industrial Psychology, and as such, there still exists some ambiguity in the conceptualisation of the construct. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace and to examine the overarching role of religious beliefs in shaping the experience of purpose. Based on a review of existing literature, the study identified key factors that contribute to individuals’ sense of purpose, namely optimism, social support, grit, and religious beliefs. An ex post facto correlational research design was used to examine the relationships between the variables. The study’s target population included South African employees with at least two years of work experience. Using non-probability convenience sampling, a sample of n = 192 completed the questionnaire. The psychometric properties of the utilised measurement instruments were examined through item and factor analysis and confirmed acceptable reliability. Structural Equation modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate the structural model. The close fit null hypothesis was not rejected and the model showed a satisfactory overall fit. Support was found for all the hypothesised relationships in the structural model except for one. The results confirmed the direct influence of optimism, grit and religious beliefs on purpose, while the effect of social support on purpose did not reach statistical significance. As expected, religious beliefs, identified as a main source variable, also had a statistically significant effect on optimism, social support, and grit. These results underscore the instrumental role of religious beliefs in promoting individuals’ overall wellbeing and positioning it as a driving force behind purposeful work. This study contributes to the growing body of research on purpose, providing foundational insights for future studies. Moreover, the study offers valuable implications for Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management professionals, equipping them with strategies to effectively encourage and cultivate purpose among employees and within organisations to positively impact their wellbeing and productivity, as well as organisations’ overall performance. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel, gedefinieer as die subjektiewe ervaring van ‘n stelsel van oorhoofse gewaardeerde doelwitte of mikpunte wat bydra tot ‘n persoon se ervaring van rigting of doelgerigtheid in die lewe, speel ‘n beduidende rol in die skep van betekenis in die lewe. Dit is ‘n konsep wat toenemend as noodsaaklik vir individue se welstand en algehele organisasiesukses beskou word. Navorsing dui daarop dat ‘n sin van doel in die werksplek werkstevredenheid en prestasie verbeter, terwyl dit omset en afwesigheid verminder en ‘n meer positiewe en produktiewe werksomgewing bevorder. Onder die faktore wat individue se ervaring van doel vorm, blyk persoonlike waardes en oortuigings besonder belangrik te wees. Binne hierdie konteks tree godsdienstige oortuigings, wat gewortel is in 'n individu se persepsie van realiteit en gevorm word deur hul unieke wereldbeskouing, na vore as 'n betekenisvolle bron van doel. Navorsing dui daarop dat godsdienstige oortuigings individue met 'n raamwerk kan voorsien om hul realiteit te begryp, hul werk in lyn te bring met 'n groter missie en betekenis te vind selfs te midde van uitdagings soos werksonsekerheid en verlaagde werksbetrokkenheid. Alhoewel die idee van doel ‘n eeue-oue konsep is, is dit eers onlangs as ‘n konstruk in Bedryfsielkunde aanvaar, en daar bestaan gevolglik steeds onduidelikheid in die konseptualisering van die konstruk. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die faktore wat bydra tot die ervaring van doel in die werksplek te identifiseer en om die oorheersende rol van godsdienstige oortuigings in die vorming van die ervaring van doel te ondersoek. Op grond van ‘n hersiening van bestaande literatuur, het die studie sleutelfaktore geidentifiseer wat bydra tot individue se ervaring van doel, naamlik optimisme, sosiale ondersteuning, deursettingsvermoe en godsdienstige oortuigings. ‘n Ex post facto korrelasionele navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om die verwantskappe tussen die veranderlikes te ondersoek. Die studie se teikenpopulasie het Suid-Afrikaanse werknemers met ten minste twee jaar werkservaring ingesluit. Met behulp van onwaarskynlikheidsteekproefneming het ‘n steekproef van n = 208 die vraelys voltooi. Die psigometriese eienskappe van die meetinstrumente wat gebruik was, is ondersoek deur item- en faktoranalise en het aanvaarde betroubaarheid bevestig. Strukturele vergelyksmodellering (SVM) is gebruik om die strukturele model te evalueer. Die hipotese van ‘n noue passing is nie verwerp nie en die model het 'n bevredigende algehele passing getoon. Ondersteuning is gevind vir al die veronderstelde verwantskappe in die strukturele model, behalwe een. Die resultate het die direkte invloed van optimisme, deursettingsvermoe, en godsdienstige oortuigings op doel bevestig, terwyl die invloed van sosiale ondersteuning op doel nie statisties betekenisvol was nie. Soos verwag het godsdienstige oortuigings, geidentifiseer as 'n primere bronveranderlike, ook 'n statisties betekenisvolle invloed op optimisme, sosiale ondersteuning en deursettingsvermoe gehad. Hierdie resultate beklemtoon dus die belangrike rol van godsdienstige oortuigings in die bevordering van individue se algehele welstand en posisioneer godsdienstige oortuigings as 'n dryfkrag agter doelgerigte werk Hierdie studie dra by tot die groeiende navorsingsveld oor doel en bied grondliggende insigte vir toekomstige studies. Boonop bied die studie waardevolle implikasies vir professionele persone in Bedryfsielkunde en Menslike Hulpbronbestuur, wat hulle toerus met strategiee om doeltreffendheid onder werknemers en binne organisasies aan te moedig en te kweek om hul welstand en produktiwiteit, sowel as organisasies se algehele prestasie positief te beinvloed. Masters 2025-06-04T14:07:23Z 2025-06-04T14:07:23Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132358 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xii, 115 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Work -- Psychological aspects Meaning (Psychology) Job satisfaction -- Religious aspects Workplace -- Religious aspects Organizational culture -- Religious aspects Religion and psychology UCTD Van der Walt, Maria Magdalena Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs |
| title | Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs |
| title_full | Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs |
| title_fullStr | Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs |
| title_short | Factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace : the role of religious beliefs |
| title_sort | factors contributing to a sense of purpose in the workplace the role of religious beliefs |
| topic | Work -- Psychological aspects Meaning (Psychology) Job satisfaction -- Religious aspects Workplace -- Religious aspects Organizational culture -- Religious aspects Religion and psychology UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132358 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanderwaltmariamagdalena factorscontributingtoasenseofpurposeintheworkplacetheroleofreligiousbeliefs |