The inner resource pathway: Psychological capital bridging the link between religious coping and work performance among Pakistani engineers

Abstract

Orientation: In contemporary workplaces, engineers work in highly demanding and uncertain work environments. In such challenging contexts, religious coping as a meaning making mechanism and psychological capital factors as positive internal resources may enhance work performance.
Research purpose: Purpose of the study was to assess the predictive role of religious coping and the mediating roles of psychological capital factors in work performance among engineers working in public and private sector organisations.
Motivation for the study: Despite relevance, religious coping and psychological capital remain underexplored topics in organisational psychology. The absence of literature necessitates the need to assess religious coping and psychological capital in relation to work performance.
Research approach/design and method: Using a quantitative approach, the study selected a sample of 500 engineers (401 men & 99 women) from Pakistan through a convenient sampling approach.
Main findings: Based on correlation and mediation analysis, the study found that positive religious coping positively predicted work performance and hope as a psychological factor partially explained this association.
Practical/managerial implications: The study suggests that in the absence of external motivators, internalised coping mechanisms such as religion and psychological strengths can facilitate employees to maintain hope and positivity, lending support to better work productivity.
Contribution/value-add: The findings suggested the beneficial role of positive religious coping in work performance and the broader acceptance and adoption of training promoting positive religious coping strategies for improved workplace performance.