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Personality and engagement at work: the mediating role of psychological meaningfulness
Author(s) -
Woods Stephen A.,
Sofat Juilitta A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/jasp.12171
Subject(s) - psychology , neuroticism , personality , social psychology , big five personality traits , association (psychology) , work engagement , assertiveness , perception , psychological well being , work (physics) , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , mechanical engineering , neuroscience , engineering
In this study, we examined the associations of personality traits of the B ig F ive model with work engagement, and tested a theoretical model in which these associations are mediated by the positive state of psychological meaningfulness (perceptions that work is valuable and meaningful). In a sample of 238 UK working adults, we found that the personality facets assertiveness and industriousness were the strongest predictors of work engagement, and that both exhibited direct and indirect effects, mediated by psychological meaningfulness. Neuroticism demonstrated a marginal indirect association with engagement, again mediated by psychological meaningfulness. Our findings offered good support for our model, explaining a pathway from personality traits to engagement. Practical implications for management are discussed.