The Mediating Role Of Psychological Capital Between Psychological Contract And Work Engagement Among Nurses

ObjectivesTo investigate the status of psychological contract,psychological capital and work engagement among nurses in tertiary level 1st general hospitals;to analyze the influence of demographic variables on nurses' work engagement;to explore the mediating role of psychological capital between the psychological contract and work engagement.MethodA cross-sectional descriptive study design was used and a total of 320 participants were enrolled.Data were collected with Utrecht Work Engagement Scale(UWES-9),Psychological Capital Questionnaire,and Psychological Contract Questionnaire.SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 20.0 were used to conduct statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 320 questionnaires were enrolled and 282 questionnaires were returned,with a response rate of 88.1%.The detailed information follows as below:1.The work engagement was in a moderate level with the mean(SD)score of 3.79(0.91)and the highest score is absorption with the mean(SD)of 3.87(1.00),the lowest score for dedication with the mean(SD)of 3.74(1.08).2.The total mean(SD)score of psychological contract was 3.66(0.72)and the highest score is developmental obligation with the mean(SD)of 3.73(0.70),the lowest score for team obligation with the mean(SD)of 3.63(0.76).3.The total mean(SD)score of nurses' psychological capital was 4.39(0.63)and the highest score is self-efficacy with the mean(SD)of 4.45(0.69),the lowest score for hope with the mean(SD)of 4.35(0.69).4.Results of independent t-test showed that ages,working ages,employed ways and marriage status make no difference in work engagement.One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc analysis showed that there was significant difference in work engagement among nurses of different gender(P<0.05),education level(P<0.05),department(P<0.01)and professional title(P<0.05).Specially,male nurses scored higher than female nurses;nurses with bachelor degree scored higher than nurses with master degree and diploma;nurses working in surgical units scored higher than other department and nurses from intensive care unit scored the lowest(P<0.05);co-chief superintendent nurses scored lower than other nurses(P<0.05).5.Pearson correlation analysis showed that psychological contract positively associated with work engagement(r=0.253,P<0.01)and psychological capital(r=0.198,P<0.01),and psychological capital positively associated with work engagement(r=0.575,P<0.01).6.Results of structural equation model showed that psychological capital played a partly mediated role of between the psychological contract and work engagement,with the medicated effect accounting for 56.76%of total effect.Conclusions1.The work engagement of nurses in tertiary level hospitals is at a medium level and there is space for improvement.2.Work engagement of nurses is influenced by gender,professional title,educational level and department.3.Both psychological contract and psychological capital of nurses positively correlated with work engagement.4.Psychological capital partly mediated the work engagement and psychological contract.