Job crafting and boredom as mediators of the relationship between occupational self-efficacy and work engagement

Abstract

Previous studies have examined the impact of occupational self-efficacy and work engagement, but studies investigating job crafting and boredom as mediators of the relationship between occupational self-efficacy and work engagement among traffic control officers are lacking. Therefore, the present study tested the indirect effects of job crafting and boredom on work engagement, alongside the sequential effects of occupational self-efficacy, job crafting, and job boredom on work engagement. Time- lagged data were collected at three points of measurement among 320 traffic control officers from South-eastern Nigeria. Results of the multiple serial mediation analysis indicated that occupational self-efficacy positively predicted higher work engagement by activating higher job crafting behaviours. We also found an indirect effect of job boredom,which suggests that a higher level of occupational self-efficacy reduces job boredom via job crafting which increased work engagement. Results of the study supported the sequential mediating effects of occupational self-efficacy, job crafting and job boredom on work engagement. These results imply that occupational self-efficacy and job crafting are resources that can be used to relief employees’ feeling of boredom about their job, which in turn enhances work engagement. The limitations of the study and suggestions for further research were highlighted.