Impact of psychological capital on job burnout and job engagement of knowledge workers

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship among psychological capital, job burnout and job engagement of knowledge workers. Methods According to convenience sampling principle, 727 information enterprise knowledge workers in Beijing were tested by Psychological Capital Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale(UWES), and the impact of psychological capital on job burnout and job engagement with correlation analysis and multivariate stepwise regression analysis were explored. Results The level of each dimension of the knowledge workers psychological capital (self-efficacy (4.72±0.72), hope (4.62±0.77), hardness (4.68±0.72), optimism (4.36±0.55)) were above average. The psychological capital total score and all dimensions were negatively correlated with job burnout, and positively correlated with job engagement. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that, after controlling three demographic statistics variables of gender, age, marital status, psychological capital could predict job burnout negatively, and predict job engagement positively; self-efficacy, hardness and optimism could significantly predict the three dimensions of job burnout, hope could predict reduced personal accomplishment negatively; and self-efficacy could positively predict vigor, dedication and absorption, hardness could positively predict dedication and vigor. Conclusion Psychological capital can reduce the level of job burnout of knowledge workers, and improve their level of job engagement. Key words: Knowledge workers; Psychological capital; Job burnout; Job engagement