MEANWELL: Meaningful work for well-being
Project description
MEANWELL is an ongoing research and development project at the Department of Psychology at the University of Jyväskylä, which has been funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund (10/2021–5/2024). In addition, the project has collaborated with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s ‘Mental Health Toolkit’ project (5/2025–1/2026; see more at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and NextGeneration EU).
In the MEANWELL action model, the development of meaningful and fulfilling work is grounded in a work well-being survey, which utilizes the Vocational Meaning and Fulfillment Survey (VMFS) and accompanying VMF profile produced for respondents (see example profile below). This instrument maps sources of meaningful work and has been validated for Finnish work-life conditions.
Currently, the VMFS—now titled the ‘Vocational Meaning Barometer’—is freely available in the Mental Health Toolkit. It has three main target groups: individuals, small groups and communities, and larger communities (10 people or more). Explore and use it here: [LINK TO BE ADDED WHEN AVAILABLE]: Vocational Meaning Barometer – a survey tool for individuals and communities.
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In the MEANWELL action model, the meaningfulness of work is developed (a) collectively within organizations and (b) through guidance and counselling in HR and occupational health contexts or other similar settings (e.g., work-life counselling, career coaching).
In organizations, development days, development discussion/performance reviews, and supervisor and small-group (i.e., supervisor + team) coaching sessions aim to help different personnel groups jointly identify areas for developing meaningful work and to find practical ways to enhance meaningfulness and well-being in everyday work.
In guidance and counselling contexts, examining the vocational meanings and fulfillments through the survey and the resulting personal profiles helps employees increase their self-awareness regarding the meanings they attach to their work and the extent to which these are realized in their current job. In this process, career guidance and and work-life counselling professionals have been shown in the project to provide an essential source of support.
Publications
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