Social Interaction and Employee Health

Abstract

With social interaction, quantity does not equal quality. Persons may have frequent negative social interactions with other persons, such that the interactions are socially undermining, rather than socially supportive. Rook (1984) used regression analysis to demonstrate how negative social interactions impact upon well-being outcomes more powerfully and more consistently than do positive social interactions. Building upon Rook’s work, the present research examines a workplace weight loss intervention and demonstrates the power of socially supportive communication in measures of weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes. Management implications are discussed.

Keywords: Social interaction, employee health, weight-loss interventions