Curiosity at Work as a Mental Health Intervention episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 10, 2026 · 16 MIN

Curiosity at Work as a Mental Health Intervention

from Healthy Work · host Healthy Work Podcast

In episode 124, we sit down with Dr. Phoenix Van Wagoner, Assistant Professor of Management at California State University, Fullerton, to discuss an fun workplace resource for mental health: curiosity.Mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression affect millions of employees, yet organizations often struggle to understand what helps people manage these experiences during the workday. This study found that employees who experienced greater curiosity and interest while performing their work reported lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. Even more encouraging, these benefits were strongest for employees who were already most likely to struggle with anxiety and depression.Find the paper here: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2027-87739-001Find Dr. Van Wagoner here: https://weldresearchlab.com/phoenixvanwagoner This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthywork.substack.com

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Curiosity at Work as a Mental Health Intervention

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