Work engagement among nurses in Malta : associations with psychosocial working conditions

Abstract

Engagement has been associated with several benefits in nursing, including work performance and retention. The Job Demands and Resources (JD-R) model proposes that workplace psychosocial resource availability may be positively associated with work engagement through a motivational process. Conversely, job demands may inhibit work engagement through a health impairment process. This study aimed to determine the strength and direction of relations between a set of job resources (manager support, peer support and workplace relationships), job demands, and work engagement in a sample of nurses in Malta. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to nurses in two medical facilities (N = 270). Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to identify associations between psychosocial workplace factors and engagement. The study provided support for the JD-R, with associations identified between greater engagement and lower levels of work demands as well as greater management support. In view of the many benefits linked with engagement in nurses, fostering better psychosocial work conditions within medical facilities may be beneficial.