Dear Radha,

To me self dignity equals self control.

Dignity:

: a way of appearing or behaving that suggests seriousness and self-control

: the quality of being worthy of honor or respect

Full definition:

:  the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed

2

a :  high rank, office, or position  

b :  a legal title of nobility or honor

3

archaic :  dignitary

4

:  formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language

If you agree that self dignity is self-control then you can find something here:

http://selfcontrol.psych.lsa.umich.edu/papers/

Sweet, William.  'Whose Dignity is it Anyway? Lecture presented as part of the 'Breakfast on the Hill' series, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada, May 2007.

Dilley, Stephen and Nathan Palpant (eds.), Human Dignity in Bioethics. From Worldviews to the Public Square. New York: Routledge, 2013.

Hein, David. Christianity and Honor in: The Living Church, August 18, 2013, pp. 8–10.

Spiegel, Alix: For The Dying, A Chance To Rewrite Life, Radio Feature about dignity therapy, an end-of-life treatment created Harvey Chochinov, NPR, 12. September 2011 (link checked 15. Octobre 2014).

Hello Radha Sharma

This paper may be of interest although the perspective is not from that of the workplace. The authors of the below paper have written extensively on dignity - and listed on ResearchGate:

Chochinov, H. M., Hack, T., McClement, S., Kristjanson, L., & Harlos, M. (2002). Dignity in the terminally ill: a developing empirical model. Social Science & Medicine, 54(3), 433-443.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Harvey_Chochinov/publications?sorting=title&page=3

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tom_Hack/publications?sorting=title&page=2

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Susan_McClement/publications?sorting=title&page=2

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Linda_Kristjanson/publications?sorting=title&page=4

https://www.researchgate.net/researcher/55844797_M_Harlos

The following are more relevant to the workplace and mention self-dignity briefly:

Savage, M., Bagnall, G., & Longhurst, B. (2001). Ordinary, ambivalent and defensive: Class identities in the Northwest of England. Sociology, 35(4), 875-892.

 All the authors are on ResearchGate:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mike_Savage/publications?sorting=title&page=3

Jackson, A. (2003). " Good Jobs in Good Workplaces": Reflections on Medium-term Labour Market Challenges. Ottawa: Caledon Institute of Social Policy.

http://caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/553820541.pdf

Best wishes

Mary

Thanks Beatrice and Mary for sharing the references. These, from diverse contexts, may highlight different perspectives.  

Hi Radha,

I think that you should look at the psychological studies which have been done on the benefits of meditation.

The effects of Transcendental Meditation have been studied: for example, the article below identifies 'a resilient sense of self' linked with the practice of TM.  

http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1991-24184-001 

TM is in part promoted on its benefits to the work-place, but I don't know of any specific work-place studies. Suggest you look at the work of Peter Russell and contact him, if possible. He is an academic and has written about the benefit of self-efficacy with the practice of TM. So I'm linking self-assuredness, self-efficacy and self-dignity. Also, if you contact the TM centre they will point you in the direction of any published research:

http://uk.tm.org/?leadsource=CRM1781&gclid=CMCW68eQq8QCFXTMtAodgwoAsg

Not sure if this is of any use to what you're doing.

All the best,

Christine

Thanks, Christine. The research is interesting and highlights another perspective.