Original Research

Job demands, job resources and work engagement of academic staff in South African higher education institutions

S Rothmann, G M E Jordaan
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology | Vol 32, No 4 | a247 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v32i4.247 | © 2006 S Rothmann, G M E Jordaan | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 29 October 2006 | Published: 29 October 2006

About the author(s)

S Rothmann, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
G M E Jordaan, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the work engagement of academics in selected South African higher education institutions as well as the impact of job demands and job resources on their work engagement. Stratified random samples (N = 471) were drawn from academic staff in three higher education institutions in South Africa. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Job Demands-Resources Scale (JDRS) were administered. The results confirmed a two-factor structure of work engagement, consisting of vigour and dedication. Six reliable factors were extracted on the JDRS, namely organisational support, growth opportunities, social support, overload, advancement and job insecurity. Job resources (including organisational support and growth opportunities) predicted 26% of the variance in vigour and 38% of the variance in dedication. Job demands (overload) impacted on dedication of academics at low and moderate levels of organisational support.

Keywords

Work engagement; Job demands; Job resources; Higher education

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