Dissertation
EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOB RESOURCES AND WORK ENGAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED SATISFACTION
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004380
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/119023
Abstract
Work engagement is a relatively new construct in the academic field, only emerging in the last three decades, capturing the interest of both researchers and practitioners. It is a motivational construct viewed as an essential aspect of work with significant implications for individuals and organizations. Empirical research suggests that engaged employees drive positive organizational outcomes, including higher profit, performance, productivity, organizational commitment, and reduced turnover and absenteeism. Given the positive results associated with the construct, employees' efforts to increase work engagement have become a popular corporate strategy. However, several issues necessary for an adequate understanding of work engagement research remain unresolved. Several scholars have called for more rigorous empirical research to better understand work engagement's antecedents and processes. Guided by the Job-Demands-Resources Model and Self-Determination Theory, this study examines the effects of three job resources on work engagement. Specifically, the study contributes to the understanding of work engagement by exploring the implications of perceived autonomy support, provision of wellness programs, and incentives and rewards within the work domain mediated by the role of basic psychological need for satisfaction at work (i.e., the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness).
A sample consisting of 231 Washington State University Human Development alumni participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. In support of expectations, perceived autonomy support had a significant and positive association with work engagement. The CFA model (where the correlations between the job resources were constrained to be equal) used to determine which job resources were more important than others revealed perceived autonomy support was more strongly associated with work engagement. Overall, the findings contribute to the current understanding of work engagement by highlighting the role and relevance of job resources in work environments. Furthermore, exploring the mediation analysis deepens our understanding of work engagement and provides a better basis for identifying a range of prevention/intervention programs. Research/practical implications, future research opportunities, and study limitations are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOB RESOURCES AND WORK ENGAGEMENT
- Creators
- Senait Tekle
- Contributors
- Matthew Bumpus (Advisor)Robby Cooper (Committee Member)Anne E Cox (Committee Member)Monica K Johnson (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 91
- Identifiers
- 99900883135401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation