JD-R model: Relations of Supervisor Support and Work Autonomy with Work Engagement

Abstract

German elderly care nurses face many job-related challenges and the consequential negative personal and work-related outcomes. As a counterweight to these negative consequences, the present study investigated to what extend supervisor support and work autonomy correlate with work engagement and whether workload and work-life conflict strengthen these relations in elderly care nurses. It was hypothesized that supervisor support and work autonomy will have a positive relationship with work engagement, which will be strengthened by workload and work-life conflict. An online survey was distributed among German elderly care workers, measuring all variables cross-sectionally (N = 93). The results of a hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis show no support for the proposed hypotheses. Unexpectedly, a significant negative relationship between work-life conflict and work engagement was found. Based on that, a working time compression intervention and a mindfulness-based intervention to decrease work-life conflict are discussed. Explanations for the findings, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. Keywords: Work engagement, JD-R model, boosting hypotheses, elderly care