Objectives Recent epidemiological research in Europe has reported that two groups of job demands, i.e., challenges and hindrances, are differently associated with work engagement. The purpose of the present study was to replicate the cross-sectional association of workload and time pressure (as a challenge) and role ambiguity (as a hindrance) with work engagement among Japanese employees. Methods Between October 2010 and December 2011, a total of 9,134 employees (7,101 men and 1,673 women) from 12 companies in Japan were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire comprising the Job Content Questionnaire, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Generic Job Stress Questionnaire, short 10-item version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, short nine-item version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and demographic characteristics. Multilevel regression analyses with a random intercept model were conducted. Results After adjusting for demographic characteristics, workload and time pressure showed a positive association with work engagement with a small effect size (standardized coefficient [β] = 0.102, Cohen’s d [d] = 0.240) while role ambiguity showed a negative association with a large effect size (β = −0.429, d = 1.011). After additionally adjusting for job resources (i.e., decision latitude, supervisor support, co-worker support, and extrinsic reward), the effect size of workload and time pressure was not attenuated (β = 0.093, d = 0.234) while that of role ambiguity was attenuated but still medium (β = −0.242, d = 0.609). Conclusions Among Japanese employees, challenges such as having higher levels of workload and time pressure may enhance work engagement but hindrances, such as role ambiguity, may reduce it.
Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan;Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan;Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research and Informatics, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan;Health Administration and Psychosocial Factor Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, Kawasaki, Japan;Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan;Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan;Health Administration and Psychosocial Factor Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, Kawasaki, Japan;Health Care Center, Central Japan Railway Company, Nagoya, Japan;Kosugi Health Management Office, Toyama, Japan;Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fukuoka Tokushukai Medical Center, Kasuga, Japan;Uchisaiwaicho Medical Center, Mizuho Health Insurance Society, Tokyo, Japan
Recommended Citation:
Akiomi Inoue,Norito Kawakami,Akizumi Tsutsumi,et al. Association of Job Demands with Work Engagement of Japanese Employees: Comparison of Challenges with Hindrances (J-HOPE)[J]. PLOS ONE,2014-01-01,9(3)