THE EFFECT OF QUALITY OF WORK LIFE ON WORK ENGAGEMENT WITH WILLINGNESS TO FACE CHANGE AS A MEDIATING VARIABLE

Yusni Sipayung; Suryani Hardjo; Amanah Surbakti

doi:10.36526/sosioedukasi.v15i4.9333

Authors

Yusni Sipayung Universitas Medan Area
Suryani Hardjo Universitas Medan Area
Amanah Surbakti Universitas Medan Area

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36526/sosioedukasi.v15i4.9333

Keywords:

Quality Of Work Life, Work Engagement, Readiness For Change, Lecturer

Abstract

This study examines the effect of quality of work life on work engagement, with readiness for change as a mediating variable, among lecturers at University X in Medan. An explanatory quantitative approach was employed, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS 21. The analysis involved Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to assess the measurement model, followed by structural model testing to evaluate causal relationships. Model fit was assessed using Goodness of Fit (GOF) indices, while hypotheses were tested based on path coefficients and significance levels. The findings reveal that quality of work life positively and significantly affects work engagement (β = 0.285; p < 0.001) and readiness for change (β = 0.679; p < 0.001). Readiness for change also positively influences work engagement (β = 0.553; p < 0.001) and mediates the relationship between quality of work life and work engagement. These results highlight the importance of improving lecturers’ quality of work life to strengthen their preparedness for organizational change and engagement at work. Accordingly, higher education institutions should prioritize supportive working conditions to enhance lecturers’ adaptability and professional involvement.

References

Ahmad, A. B., & Cheng, Z. (2018). The role of change content, context, process, and leadership in understanding employees’ commitment to change: The case of public organizations in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Public Personnel Management, 47(2), 195–216. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0091026017753645

Amalia, R. S., Fattah, A., El Fahmi, E. F. F., & Halida, H. (2026). The role of work engagement and psychological capital on lecturers’ readiness to change in the era of technology-based education. Gadjah Mada Journal of Psychology (GamaJoP). https://doi.org/10.22146/gamajop.109327

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

Bashir, B., Manzoor, Z., & Gani, A. (2026). Job satisfaction: A mediator of the quality of work life and organizational commitment nexus. Journal of Management Development, 45(2), 249–277. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-03-2024-0103

da Silva Júnior, D. I., Ferreira, M. C., & Valentini, F. (2021). Work demands, personal resources and work outcomes: The mediation of engagement. Universitas Psychologica, 20, 1–13.

Deng, J., Cheng, Z., Qi, S., & Deng, R. (2023). Unravelling the relationship between perceived values-congruence with organizational change readiness: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1086326. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1086326

Diedericks, J. C., Cilliers, F., & Bezuidenhout, A. (2019). Resistance to change, work engagement and psychological capital of academics in an open distance learning work environment. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 17, 1142. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v17i0.1142

Fatima, M., Riaz, A., Mahmood, H. Z., & Usman, M. (2020). Linking employees’ change-related self-efficacy, change readiness and commitment to change. Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences, 14(1), 334–367.

Galanakis, M. D., & Tsitouri, E. (2022). Positive psychology in the working environment. Job demands-resources theory, work engagement and burnout: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1022102. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1022102

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

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

Inegbedion, H. E. (2024). Work-life balance and employee commitment: Mediating effect of job satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1349555. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1349555

Kebede, S., & Wang, A. (2022). Organizational justice and employee readiness for change: The mediating role of perceived organizational support. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 806109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.806109

Köhler, A., Ritter, M., & Kauffeld, S. (2024). A typology of organizational readiness for change based on a latent profile analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1453836. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1453836

Kulikowski, K., & Orzechowski, J. (2018). All employees need job resources: Testing the Job Demands-Resources theory among employees with either high or low working memory and fluid intelligence. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health.

Lee, C. H., Wang, M. L., & Liu, M. S. (2017). When and how does psychological voice climate influence individual change readiness? The mediating role of normative commitment and the moderating role of work engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1737. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01737

Lee, Y., Kim, S., & Park, J. (2020). Quality of work life and organizational performance: The mediating role of job satisfaction. Sustainability, 12(9), 3890.

Matthysen, M., & Harris, C. (2018). The relationship between readiness to change and work engagement: A case study in an accounting firm undergoing change. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 16, 855. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v16i0.855

Meria, L., Yohana, C., & Purwohedi, U. (2023). Enhancing lecturer readiness to change: The mediation role of work engagement. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3), 2290616. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2290616

Meria, L., Yohana, C., Purwohedi, U., Saukani, & Apriliasari, D. (2023). Reinforcing lecturer readiness to change by increasing psychological capital and engagement. APTISI Transactions on Technopreneurship, 5(3), 261–277. https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v5i3.214

Muchtadin. (2023). Pengaruh Lingkungan Kerja terhadap Work Engagement Melalui Motivasi Intrinsik Dosen. Journal Accounting, Management and Economics Research (JAMER), 2(1), 11–21.

Ningrum, O. A., & Salendu, A. (2021). Pengaruh psychological capital terhadap individual readiness for change pada karyawan sales. Jurnal Diversita, 7(1), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.31289/diversita.v7i1.4644

Novitasari, D., Goestjahjanti, F. S., & Asbari, M. (2020). The role of readiness to change between transformational leadership and performance: Evidence from a hospice during the covid-19 pandemic. Asia-Pacific Management and Business Application, 9(1), 37–56.

Nurrizqi, L. (2025). Hubungan antara work engagement dan readiness for change pada karyawan Gen Z. Bandung Conference Series: Psychology Science.

Rai, G. D., & Verma, S. (2022). Quality of work life, fear of COVID-19, job satisfaction, and commitment: A moderated mediation model. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-10-2021-0578

Robbins, S. (2015). Perilaku Organisasi. Salemba Empat.

Rukajat, A. (2021). Metodologi Penelitian (Kuantitatif Dan Kualitatif). Deepublish.

Subbarayalu, A. V, & Al Kuwaiti, A. (2018). Quality of work life of teaching staff working at a higher education institution in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Social Service Research, 45(4), 530–542.

Subbarayalu, A. V, & Al Kuwaiti, A. (2019). Quality of work life (QoWL) of faculty members in Saudi higher education institutions: A comparison between undergraduate medical and engineering program. International Journal of Educational Management, 33(4), 768–779.

Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif R&D. Alfabeta.

Sypniewska, B., Baran, M., & Kłos, M. (2023). Work engagement and employee satisfaction in the practice of sustainable human resource management: Based on the study of Polish employees. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal.

Urbanaviciute, I., & Lazauskaite-Zabielske, J. (2023). The quality of working life from a person-centred perspective: Linking job crafting, work environment types and work engagement. Personnel Review, 52(8), 1991–2007.

Widyastuti, F., & Ardiyanti, N. (2024). The impact of human resource aspects in supporting readiness for change. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 22(1), 125–137.

Zajc, K., Andolšek, J., Černe, M., & Škerlavaj, M. (2026). Work intensity, change readiness and well-being: The moderating role of sleep quality. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 39(8), 56–81. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-08-2025-0691

Žnidaršič, J., & Marič, M. (2021). Relationships between work-family balance, job satisfaction, life satisfaction and work engagement among higher education lecturers. Organizacija, 54(3), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2021-0015