Decent Work Mediates the Relationship Between Work Capital and Work Engagement Among Nurses

Work engagement is essential for nurses' motivation, retention and quality of care. However, the mechanisms linking organizational resources to engagement remain insufficiently understood. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study examined whether decent work is statistically associated with the relationship between work capital (WC) and work engagement among nurses.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 535 nurses from multiple hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China. Standardized instruments were used to assess WC, Decent Work (DW), and Work Engagement (UWES). Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and mediation analysis (PROCESS Model 4, 5000 bootstrap samples).

Work Capital was positively associated with decent work (B = 0.74, p < 0.001) and work engagement (B = 0.19, p < 0.001). Decent work was positively associated with work engagement (B = 0.85, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis indicated a significant indirect association (indirect effect = 0.67, 95% CI [0.56, 0.79]), accounting for 76.1% of the total association. Subscale comparisons, based on standardized mean scores, suggested relatively higher dedication and lower absorption levels.

Decent work may function as a potential explanatory pathway linking work capital and work engagement. These findings highlight the importance of considering both resource availability and perceived work quality when examining engagement in nursing contexts.

This study extends the JD-R framework by examining decent work as a potential mediating mechanism between work capital and work engagement in nurses.

This study followed the STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies.

No patient or public contribution.