Job crafting among health care professionals: The role of work engagement

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of job crafting on the quality of the work environment of health care professionals. Background: Job crafting refers to proactive behavior aimed at optimizing the fit between person and job. Using job demands-resources theory, we hypothesized that job crafting would be positively related to job resources and person-organisation fit, and negatively to hindrance demands. Furthermore, we hypothesized that these relationships would be qualified by work engagement. Methods: A total of 5,272 health care professionals from one of 35 different organisations filled out an electronic questionnaire (response is 55%). Regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. Results: Consistent with hypotheses, job crafting in the form of increasing job resources was positively related to opportunities for development, performance feedback and P-O fit; and negatively related to hindrance job demands – particularly when work engagement was high. Conclusions: The combination of job crafting and work engagement is important for the realization of a resourceful work environment and fit between person and organisation. Implications for nursing management: Interventions aimed at fostering job crafting should be tailored to the motivation of health care professionals.