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. 2020 Nov 13:11:528656.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.528656. eCollection 2020.

What Kind of Intervention Is Effective for Improving Subjective Well-Being Among Workers? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Asuka Sakuraya  1 , Kotaro Imamura  2 , Kazuhiro Watanabe  2 , Yumi Asai  2 , Emiko Ando  3 , Hisashi Eguchi  4 , Norimitsu Nishida  5 , Yuka Kobayashi  2 , Hideaki Arima  2 , Mai Iwanaga  6 , Yasumasa Otsuka  7 , Natsu Sasaki  2 , Akiomi Inoue  4 , Reiko Inoue  4 , Kanami Tsuno  8 , Ayako Hino  9 , Akihito Shimazu  10 , Akizumi Tsutsumi  4 , Norito Kawakami  2
Affiliations

What Kind of Intervention Is Effective for Improving Subjective Well-Being Among Workers? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Asuka Sakuraya et al. Front Psychol. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to improve subjective well-being (SWB), including evaluative, hedonic, and eudemonic well-being, and the mental component of quality of life (QOL) of working population. Methods: A literature search was conducted, using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES. Eligible studies included those that were RCTs of any intervention, conducted among healthy workers, measured SWB as a primary outcome, and original articles in English. Study characteristics, intervention, outcomes, and results on SWB outcomes were extracted by the investigators independently. After a brief narrative summarizing and classifying the contents of the interventions, the included outcomes were categorized into each aspect of SWB (evaluative, hedonic, and eudemonic well-being, and the mental component of QOL). Finally, the characteristics of the effective interventions for increasing each aspect were summarized, and the pooled effect of interventions on SWB was investigated by a meta-analysis. Publication bias was investigated by drawing a funnel plot and conducting Egger's test. Results: From the 5,450 articles found, 39 met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The interventions included in this review were classified into six categories (physical activity, ergonomics, psychological, environmental, multicomponent intervention, and others). The meta-analysis from 31 studies showed that the pooled effect of included interventions on SWB was significantly positive (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.51; standard error (SE) = 0.10). A funnel plot showed there were extremely large or small SMDs, and Egger's test was significant. Thus, we conducted sensitivity analysis, excluding these extreme SMDs, and confirmed that the estimated pooled effect was also significantly positive. Subgroup analyses for separate types of interventions showed the effects of psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness, cognitive behavioral based approach, and other psychological interventions) were also significantly positive. Conclusion: The current study revealed the effectiveness of interventions for increasing SWB. Specifically, psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness, cognitive behavioral based approach, and other psychological interventions) may be useful for improving SWB.

Keywords: intervention; meta-analysis; positive mental health; subjective well-being; systematic review; worker.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of intervention effects [standard mean differences (SMD)] on subjective well-being (SWB) among 31 studies. Each study may include multiple outcomes. SMD and 95% CIs for an individual study were calculated based on a combination of study and outcome, where a positive effect means favorable results for an intervention group compared to a control group. The overall effect was estimated by using a three-level random-effect model considering multiple outcomes nested in the same studies. The heterogeneity was tested by Q statistic.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Funnel plot for standardized mean differences (SMDs) of subjective well-being (SWB) and standard errors (SEs) for 31 studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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