Relationship between perceived organizational support and work engagement in Mexican workers

Cristian Jonathan Ortiz Isabeles,César Augusto García Avitia

doi:10.17081/psico.24.45.4084

Abstract

Introduction: The organizational support and the work engagement are important elements aligned with the psychology perspective of occupational health. Understanding the interaction between both variables in a context little explored as México and Latin America give an interesting contribution to its analysis. Objective: Analyze the relationship between perceived organizational support and work engagement in Mexican workers. Method: Cross-sectional and correlational design were employed in this study. A regression analysis was performed on the data obtained of the Survey Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) in their short and Spanish version. The sample consisted of 292 Mexican workers of the tertiary sector. Results: Spearman correlation showed significant but weak correlations only between one dimension of perceived organizational support (satisfaction of socio-affective needs) and two dimensions of work engagement: vigor (rho = 0.33, p < 0.01) and dedication (rho = 0.28, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The evidence found does not support an important relationship between the two variables unlike previous studies, but those were made in different contexts to Latin America and some were related to other variables. So, it is proposed to investigate relationship of perceived organizational support with the engagement considering other variables as mediating.

Highlights

The organizational support and the work engagement are important elements aligned with the psychology perspective of occupational health
The evidence found does not support an important relationship between the two variables unlike previous studies, but those were made in different contexts to Latin America and some were related to other variables
Considering that Survey Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS) has seven points, the median is identified in the number four, so, it’s possible identified a penchant toward high scores through the average

Summary

Introduction

The organizational support and the work engagement are important elements aligned with the psychology perspective of occupational health. Since the early 2000s, psychology began to take a look at the positive aspects of human behavior under three dimensions: 1) subjective experiences, 2) individual traits and 3) the group (Seligman, 2005; Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). A new field called Positive Occupational Health Psychology (POHP) has arisen, seeking for better practices, structures and managements process to benefit workers’ health (Salanova, 2009; Salanova, Llorens, & Martínez, 2016). Perceived organizational support (POS) and work engagement can be identified within the theorical perspective above mentioned, in the subjective experiences dimension (Seligman, 2005; Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). The reasons for abandonment of employment associated with a weak support to professional aspirations, poor working conditions and conflicts with ssupervisos have represented 61% in the last five years (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, 2020)

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Discussion

Conclusion