Document Type
Thesis
First Faculty Advisor
Kathryn Ostermeier
Second Faculty Advisor
Laura Kohl
Keywords
leadership; exercise; hormones; job engagement
Publisher
Bryant University
Rights Management
CC-BY-NC-ND
Abstract
This research project aimed to find a connection between exercise, hormone levels, and job outcomes. It is largely known that many successful people workout, but there is limited research that connects working out to leadership effectiveness and job engagement. Therefore, a survey was distributed to Bryant University students asking them to self-report using hormone dimensions, and job outcome Likert scales. The OLS regression did not result in significant p-values however, using a means comparison there were interesting revelations in the data. Those who exercised with others had increased levels of serotonin and leadership effectiveness. Those that exercised before work had increased leadership effectiveness, but it decreased their job engagement. Those that exercised more frequently had increased serotonin and dopamine scores. Those that exercised more intensely had increased dopamine scores. These results contribute to the current body of knowledge of exercise and all the benefits that it can have in a person’s life outside of the gym. This study has significant potential to increase the productivity and therefore the profitability of employees, managers, and organizations.
