Date of Award

Spring 5-25-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Marita Apter-Desselles

Abstract

Work engagement is a popular topic due to the positive outcomes linked to it. For example, engaged workers are shown to be more productive workers and better organizational citizens. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory has been the most widely accepted explanatory model for work engagement due to its flexibility to be applied to all work environments. While the JD-R does not argue that motivation is fixed, it does not account for moment-to-moment changes in motivation. A state theory of motivation that examines how motivation may impact the relationships between demands and work engagement has yet to be examined. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to examine whether certain motivational states (i.e., paratelic-conforming and mastery) moderated the relationship between the propensity to see demands as challenges and work engagement. The analysis did not reveal any significant interactions. The paratelic-conforming interaction was non-significant (B = 0.0488, 95% CI [-0.0914, 0.1845], p = 0.5). The mastery interaction was also non-significant (B = 0.0363, 95% CI [ -0.1344, 0.2069], p = 0.68). The direct effects were examined, and conflicting results were found between the scales employed to establish the individual’s state. The direct effects and subsequent follow-up analyses are discussed.

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