The Worker Vitality Scale (WVS): Development, psychometric assessment, and validation

Abstract

Extensive research highlights vitality as a powerful reservoir of energy that empowers leaders and workers to achieve their full potential. This study advances the understanding and measurement of vitality in the workplace by developing the Worker Vitality Scale (WVS), a robust tool that incorporates four key dimensions: physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual vitality. While previous research has emphasized the generative and dynamic nature of vitality as a resource, this paper introduces the novel dimension of spiritual vitality. The WVS was developed through a rigorous process that included the generation of scale items, face validity testing, and confirmatory factor analysis to establish construct validity and ensure the reliability of the four-factor model. The study also investigates the relationship between the WVS and the PERMA+4 well-being model, demonstrating that the pathways of the PERMA+4 predict the new WVS. By validating the WVS through longitudinal testing and structural equation modeling, this research provides a practical and theoretical framework for promoting vitality across diverse workplace settings. Implications for leaders, practitioners, and organizations include strategies to cultivate a thriving workforce by addressing all dimensions of vitality, including the often-overlooked spiritual component.

Keywords

Vitality, Positive psychology at work, positive organizational psychology, work-related well-being