Internal communication from a happiness management perspective: state-of-the-art and theoretical construction of a guide for its development

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to conduct a literature review and meta-analysis on the use of Happiness Management strategies in internal communication. The objective was to extract theoretical constructs of dimensions and indicators for the development of a guide for its application, validated by a panel of experts.

Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed under the protocol of the PRISMA Extension Guide of articles indexed in the Scopus database (2019-2024). The total number of extracted documents (n = 479) was screened based on the inclusion criteria, and the sample was delimited by 49 studies. Subsequently, after reading and analyzing the research, the dimensions and indicators of internal communication from a Happiness Management perspective were clustered. This guide was submitted to a panel of 13 experts who determined the reliability and validity of the construct and content using the Content Validity Index (CVI).

Results: The dimensions and indicators emerging from the literature were validated with an average ( $\overline{X}$ ) of 3.36/4, achieving a level of inter-judge agreement (CVI) of 0.86, an excellent agreement of 86%, and an average score of 2.90/4 (high). The guide was composed of 9 dimensions of internal communication: Attitudes of the leader, employer or supervisor, Climate and communication policies, Feedback and recognition, Organizational environment and structures, Peer and informal communication, Organizational culture and business perspective, Employee-organization relationship, Communication media and platforms, and Employee attitudes, which brought together 103 variables. These dimensions were then reorganized into the three macro-dimensions of the Happiness Management philosophy: (1) active construction of a healthy work environment and well-being, (2) formation of employees' positive personality, and (3) active emotional experience during the working day to build the internal communication development guide from the Happiness Management perspective.

Conclusions: Integrating Happiness Management into internal communication can significantly enhance employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. The validated framework provides a detailed guide for aligning internal communication strategies with the Happiness Management principles.

Keywords: Business communication; Corporate communication; Corporate sense of belonging; Employee psychological well-being.

Fig. 1

Thematic correlations map

Fig. 2

Sample screening procedure - PRISMA

Fig. 3

Phases for the construction, validation and evaluation of the application guide

Fig. 4

Network of integrative dimensions of internal communication

Fig. 5

Density semantic relation tree of indicators

Fig. 6

Internal communication dimensions from a happiness management perspective macro-dimensions