Research Article

Examining the Relationship Between Meaningful Work and Job Engagement

Volume: 15 Number: 3 July 31, 2022
EN TR

Examining the Relationship Between Meaningful Work and Job Engagement

Abstract

Ensuring teachers’ job engagement is critical in achieving educational goals. This study examined the relationship between meaningful work and job engagement using the data collected from 452 teachers in Turkey. The data collected by using Meaningful Work Scale and Job Engagement Scale Turkish Form were analyzed by descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, multivariate regression analysis, and moderation analyses. We found a positive, moderate, and significant relationship between meaningful work and job engagement. We tested the predictive effects of meaningful work and demographic variables (gender, seniority, and educational status). Meaningful work explained 47% of the variance in teachers’ job engagement in the first model. All subdimensions of meaningful work except for the search for meaning at work and work relations were found to be significant predictors of job engagement. With the inclusion of demographic variables, the second model again explained 47% of the variance in teachers’ job engagement. Furthermore, we found that seniority was a significant and positive predictor of job engagement. Moderation analyses indicated gender and educational status did not have a moderator role in the relationship between meaningful work and job engagement. We found that seniority had a moderator effect on the relationship between work relationships and job engagement. This study contributes to meaningful work and job engagement literature in the context of teachers.

Keywords

References

  1. Akar, F. (2020). Examining the meaningful work level of generation X and generation Y teachers. Elementary Education Online, 19(3), 1225-1241. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ilkonline/article/728029
  2. Akdeniz, A. (2018). Eğitim örgütlerinde öğretmenlerin örgütsel adalet algıları ile işle bütünleşme algıları arasındaki ilişki ve bazı değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. Unpublished Master's Thesis, Gazi University.
  3. Akdeniz, A., & Ottekin Demirbolat, A. (2019). Ortaokullarda öğretmenlerin örgütsel adalet algıları ile işle bütünleşme algıları arasındaki ilişki. Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 17(2), 418-442. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tebd/issue/50950/562278
  4. Albrecht, S. L. (2013). Work engagement and the positive power of meaningful work. In A. B. Bakker (Ed.), Advances in positive organizational psychology (pp. 237–260). Emerald Group Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2046-410X(2013)0000001013
  5. Ashmos, D. P., & Duchon, D. (2000). Spirituality at work: A conceptualization and measure. Journal of Management Inquiry, 9(2), 134–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/105649260092008
  6. Bailey, C., Yeoman, R., Madden, A., Thompson, M., & Kerridge, G. (2019). A review of the empirical literature on meaningful work: Progress and research agenda. Human Resource Development Review, 18(1), 83–113. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484318804653
  7. Bakker, A. B. (2005). Flow among music teachers and their students: The crossover of peak experiences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 26–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2003.11.001
  8. Bakker, A.B., & Demerouti, E. (2007). The job demands resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309-328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Other Fields of Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 31, 2022

Submission Date

January 3, 2022

Acceptance Date

June 28, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 15 Number: 3

APA
Karataş, E., & Özdemir, M. (2022). Examining the Relationship Between Meaningful Work and Job Engagement. Journal of Theoretical Educational Sciences, 15(3), 676-698. https://doi.org/10.30831/akukeg.1053090

Cited By