Ubuntu HeartMath programme efficacy for social coherence and work spirit: Preliminary evidence

Abstract

This study reports preliminary evidence on the efficacy of an Ubuntu type HeartMath intervention for the purpose of facilitating social coherence and spirit at work. The study employed a pre-test and post-test, mixed methods design with 17 students and staff of an education unit (women = 10; range 24 to 58 years). Participants completed a brief Ubuntu HeartMath workshop focused on promoting their sense of social coherence and work spirit, with pre-test and post-test measures of psychophysiological coherence, social coherence and work spirit, as well as written experiential evaluative descriptions of their personal growth indicators from the workshop. Wilcoxon signed rank tests for changes in psychophysiological coherence, social coherence, and work spirit indicators were positive. This suggests that the Ubuntu Heartmath workshop had efficacy in enhancing quality of work life. Thematic analysis of the written, experiential, evaluative descriptions also suggested that participants derived benefit in their sense of work place coherence and spirit. An Ubuntu-oriented HeartMath intervention appears to hold promise for improving psychophysiological coherence, social coherence, and work spirit in an education service setting.

Keywords:

• HeartMath
• psychophysiological coherence
• social coherence
• spirit at work
• Ubuntu

Acknowledgements

This work is based on research supported by the University of Zululand and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). Any opinion, finding and conclusion, or recommenda- tion expressed in this material is that of the author(s) and the NRF does not accept any liability in regard thereto.