THE EFFECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL ON WORK ENGAGEMENT IN NURSES WITH WORK MEANINGFULNESS AS A MEDIATING VARIABLE

Debby Grace Anastasia Sirait; Salamiah Sari Dewi; Yudistira Fauzy Indrawan

doi:10.36526/sosioedukasi.v15i4.9179

Authors

Debby Grace Anastasia Sirait Universitas Medan Area
Salamiah Sari Dewi Universitas Medan Area
Yudistira Fauzy Indrawan Universitas Medan Area

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36526/sosioedukasi.v15i4.9179

Keywords:

Psychological Capital, Work Meaningfulness, Work Engagement, Nurse, SEM-PLS.

Abstract

Work engagement is an important factor in supporting the quality of nursing care. Given the high demands of nursing work, psychological resources can play an important role in increasing nurses' work engagement. This study aims to examine the influence of psychological capital on work engagement and the role of work meaningfulness mediation in nurses at Vita Insani Hospital. This study uses a quantitative approach with Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) analysis. Data were collected using the adapted Positive Psychological Capital Capital Questionnaire, Work and Meaning Inventory (WAMI) scale, and the adapted Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-17). The results showed that psychological capital had a positive and significant effect on work engagement (β = 0.170, p = 0.015) and work meaningfulness (β = 0.546, p < 0.000). Work meaningfulness also had a positive and significant effect on work engagement (β = 0.512, p < 0.000). Furthermore, work meaningfulness partially mediated the relationship between psychological capital and work engagement (indirect effect β = 0.280, p < 0.000). These findings show that psychological capital is related to higher work meaningfulness, which in turn is related to higher work engagement in nurses. Therefore, hospitals can consider various efforts to strengthen psychological capital and work meaningfulness in nurses as part of efforts to support work attachment.

References

An, M., Shin, E. S., Choi, M. Y., Lee, Y., Hwang, Y. Y., & Kim, M. (2020). Positive psychological capital mediates the association between burnout and nursing performance outcomes among hospital nurses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165988

Aprilia, E. D., Adam, M., Zulkarnain, Z., & Mawarpury, M. (2025). The role of psychological capital and meaningful work in enhancing well-being. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 23. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v23i0.2984

Aungsuroch, Y., Gunawan, J., Juanamasta, I. G., & Montayre, J. (2024). Updating Factors Influencing Nurse Work Engagement in the Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review. In Journal of Healthcare Leadership (Vol. 16). https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S451056

Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands-resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056

Carter, J. W., & Youssef-Morgan, C. (2022). Psychological capital development effectiveness of face-to-face, online, and Micro-learning interventions. Education and Information Technologies, 27(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10824-5

Chen, H., Kewou, N. Y. N., Atingabili, S., Sogbo, A. D. Z., & Tcheudjeu, A. T. (2024). The impact of psychological capital on nurses’ job performance: a chain mediation analysis of problem-focused coping and job engagement. BMC Nursing, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01802-6

Dello Russo, S., & Stoykova, P. (2015). Psychological Capital Intervention (PCI): A Replication and Extension. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 26(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21212

Diriba, D. C., Tilahun, T., Akuma, A. O., Takele, A., Shibiru, T., & Abera, T. (2025). Work engagement and its associated factors among nurses in hospitals of western Ethiopia. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03872-6

Ekawaty, Z., Saleh, A., & Rachmawaty, R. (2023). Strategi Peningkatan Kinerja Perawat melalui Support Mental dan Gaya Kepemimpinan Kepala Ruangan yang Dimediasi oleh Psychological Capital : Integrative Review. Jurnal Kesehatan, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.24252/kesehatan.v16i1.31064

Flinkman, M., Coco, K., Rudman, A., & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2023). Registered nurses’ psychological capital: A scoping review. In International Journal of Nursing Practice (Vol. 29, Issue 5). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.13183

Gómez-Salgado, J., Navarro-Abal, Y., López-López, M. J., Romero-Martín, M., & Climent-Rodríguez, J. A. (2019). Engagement, passion and meaning of work as modulating variables in nursing: A theoretical analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16010108

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd Ed). Sage Publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7

Harty, B., Gustafsson, J. A., Björkdahl, A., & Möller, A. (2016). Group intervention: A way to improve working teams’ positive psychological capital. Work, 53(2). https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-152227

Hobfoll, S. E., Halbesleben, J., Neveu, J. P., & Westman, M. (2018). Conservation of resources in the organizational context: The reality of resources and their consequences. In Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior (Vol. 5). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032117-104640

Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118

Keykha, K. A., Alinejad-Naeini, M., & Peyrovi, H. (2025). The mediating role of psychological capital in the association between work engagement and occupational stress in pediatric nurses. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91521-y

Liu, D., Zou, M., Ma, Y., Xie, Y., Zhang, W., Sun, C., Gao, Y., Shi, L., & Cui, Y. (2025). The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital and Work Engagement in the Relationship Between Well-Being and Turnover Intention Among Nurses in China. Journal of Nursing Management, 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/jonm/8839576

Liu, X., Li, C., Yan, X., & Shi, B. (2022). Psychological capital has a positive correlation with humanistic care ability among nurses. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.955627

Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Avey, J. B., & Norman, S. M. (2007). Positive psychological capital: Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. In Personnel Psychology (Vol. 60, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x

Mulyati, R., Himam, F., Riyono, B., & Suhariadi, F. (2019). Model Work Engagement Angkatan Kerja Generasi Millennial dengan Meaningful Work sebagai Mediator. Gadjah Mada Journal of Psychology (GamaJoP), 5(1). https://doi.org/10.22146/gamajop.47964

Mustaqim, A., & Ratnawati, A. (2025). The Role of Psychological Capital in Increasing Work Engagement with Moderated Work Meaningfulness at Bank Indonesia Jakarta. Sultan Agung Management Journal, 2(3).

Niswaty, R., Wirawan, H., Akib, H., Saggaf, M. S., & Daraba, D. (2021). Investigating the effect of authentic leadership and employees’ psychological capital on work engagement: evidence from Indonesia. Heliyon, 7(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06992

Özkan, S. A., Özsoy, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2026). Fostering Meaningful Work Through Inclusive Leadership: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital. Psychological Reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/003329412614505

Pace, F., Sciotto, G., & Russo, L. (2022). Meaningful work, pleasure in working, and the moderating effects of deep acting and COVID-19 on nurses’ work. Nursing Forum, 57(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12787

Pal, P., & Bodhi, R. (2026). How does meaningful work foster healthcare professionals’ work engagement: Insights from multi-group analysis. Acta Psychologica, 264(February), 106342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106342

Park, S., & Ha, Y. (2025). The relationship between positive psychological capital and work engagement in clinical nurses: mediation effect of job crafting. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02600-w

Percunda, A. D., & Putri, N. K. (2020). Hospital nurses’ psychological capital and work engagement – are they really related? The case of an indonesian hospital. Journal of Health and Translational Medicine, 23.

Purba, S. D., Chaterine, C., Hardjono, S., & Clarissa, B. (2019). Psychological Meaningfulness and Work Engagement Effect on Doctor’s Job Satisfaction. Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.15294/jdm.v10i2.20835

Rahman. (2025). Pengaruh Job Meaningfulness Terhadap Work Engagement Melalui Psychological Capital (Studi: Puskesmas Mokoau) Kota Kendari Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia. Jurnal Praba : Jurnal Rumpun Kesehatan Umum, 3(4), 119–133. https://doi.org/10.62027/praba.v3i4.612

Rosso, B. D., Dekas, K. H., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2010). On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration and review. Research in Organizational Behavior, 30, 91–127.

Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2010). Defining and measuring work engagement: Bringing clarity to the concept. In Work Engagement: A Handbook of Essential Theory and Research.

Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The Measurement of Engagement and Burnout: A Two Sample Confirmatory Factor Analytic Approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1015630930326

Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The Measurement of Engagement and Burnout: A Two-Sample Confirmatory Factor Analytic Approach. Ournal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015630930326

Sugiyono. (2015). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Sutrisno, M. B., & Parahyanti, E. (2018). The Impact of Psychological Capital and Work Meaningfulness on Work Engagement in Generation Y. https://doi.org/10.2991/uipsur-17.2018.9

Sutrisno, T., Rochaida, E., Achmad, G. N., & Kurniawan, I. S. (2022). The Effect of Psychological Capital on Employment Engagement with the Meaning of Work as Mediators on Educational Power Employees , Universitas Mulawarman Rectorate. Budapest International Research and Critics Instirute-Journal (BORCI-Journal), 5(1).

Syam, R., & Arifin, N. A. I. (2021). The Effect of Psychological Capital on Work Engagement of Nurse at Pertiwi Hospital in Makassar City. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Administrasi Publik, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.26858/jiap.v11i1.21104

Wu, M., Wang, W., Chen, W., & Qiu, H. (2026). Mediating effect of psychological capital between perceived organizational support and work engagement in Chinese nurses: a systematic review and meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 31(6), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2628982

Yuan, Z., Zhang, X., Wang, F., Jin, M., Teng, M., He, H., & Wang, J. (2023). Levels of psychological capital among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. In International Nursing Review (Vol. 70, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12803

Zhang, M., Chen, H., Wang, N., Li, Y., Li, X., & Liu, Y. (2023). The mediating role of job satisfaction between psychological capital and work engagement among Chinese nurses during COVID-19 outbreak: A comparative study between nurse specialists and general nurses. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13(January), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.990216