Does happiness relate to capital ownership? A mixed-methods study of happiness in hospitals

Abstract This research aims to explore the complex structure of workplace happiness (WPH) among healthcare professionals. Utilizing a socio-technical systems theory approach, we employ a mixed-methods research design. Specifically, we examine the linear influence of ethical leadership, knowledge management systems, and social support on the WPH of healthcare professionals. Although literature documents these effects individually, no studies have investigated their combined influence. We also explore the non-linear interactions among these variables that contribute to WPH and its absence. Drawing from a sample that includes both public and private Spanish hospitals, our results reveal the distinct characteristics of WPH in each setting. We employ structural equation modeling to assess the linear influences on WPH and use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to uncover the complex interactions that both promote and inhibit WPH. The findings indicate that public hospitals primarily support WPH through social mechanisms, whereas private hospitals do so through socio-technical means. Conversely, WPH prevention in public hospitals is socio-technically oriented, while in private hospitals, it is solely socially oriented. Our findings suggest that the type of hospital ownership – public or private – differentially influences WPH. Nonetheless, ethical leadership plays a crucial role in both contexts. This study contributes to the broader adoption of socio-technical systems theory by integrating linear and configurational research approaches. Practically, the research offers guidance for managerial strategies that promote WPH in both public and private hospitals. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for avoiding the factors that hinder WPH in these settings.