A test of a job demands-resources intervention

• Published in: Journal of managerial psychology Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 686 - 701
• Main Authors: Wingerden, Jessica van, Bakker, Arnold B, Derks, Daantje
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 11-04-2016
• Subjects: Analysis of covariance; Corporate culture; Covariance; Design analysis; Employees; Employment; Feedback; Generalizability; Health care; HR & organizational behaviour; Intervention; Job characteristics; Job performance; Medical personnel; Multivariate analysis; Occupational psychology; Optimism; Organizational psychology; Organizations; Performance enhancement; Personal development; Psychology; Quality; Quasi-experimental methods; Questionnaires; Standard deviation; Theory; Work environment; Working conditions; Work engagement; Job performance; Organizational interventions; JD-R model; PsyCap; Job crafting
• ISSN: 0268-3946; 1758-7778
• DOI: 10.1108/JMP-03-2014-0086

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of a job demands-resources (JD-R) intervention on psychological capital (PsyCap), job crafting, work engagement, and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
– This study used a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group. Healthcare professionals (n=67) were assigned to the JD-R intervention or a control group and filled out questionnaires before and after the intervention. To test the hypotheses, multivariate analyses of covariance were conducted.
Findings
– Results showed that participants’ PsyCap, job crafting, work engagement, and self-ratings of job performance significantly increased after the JD-R intervention.
Research limitations/implications
– Only healthcare professionals participated in the intervention study, which restricts the generalizability of the findings.
Practical implications
– The results illustrate that organizations can foster work engagement and improve performance by offering a JD-R intervention aimed at increasing PsyCap and job crafting at work. Organizations should acknowledge the importance of facilitating and stimulating a resourceful and challenging work environment.
Originality/value
– This is the first study that examined a JD-R intervention. The results contribute to JD-R theory by offering a first causal test. For the first time, a significant increase of job crafting behaviors after an intervention was found.