The Mediating Role of Positive Affect on the Relationship Between Psychological Capital and Employee Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study

McCrarren, Maria (2019) The Mediating Role of Positive Affect on the Relationship Between Psychological Capital and Employee Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Purpose: By investigating the relationship between psychological capital and employee engagement, with positive affect as a potential mediator, this paper aims to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to employee engagement.

Design/methodology/approach: A survey was dispensed to a non-probability sample and quantitative methods were used to analyse the data.

Findings: Positive affect was found to partially mediate the relationship between psychological capital and employee engagement. Positive affect was also found to partially mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and engagement, hope and engagement, and optimism and engagement. Positive affect fully mediated the relationship between resilience and engagement.

Research limitations/implications: The nature of the sample used means that results cannot be generalised. As the study was cross-sectional in design, the direction of the relationships cannot be concluded. Future studies might replicate the study in a longitudinal design with a probability sample in order to extend the findings to the population.

Practical implications: Results from this study imply that both psychological capital and positive affect influence positive employee engagement outcomes. This knowledge can be used by organisations to effectively improve engagement by boosting psychological capital and positive affect in employees. Recommendations for implementation are included in-text.

Originality/value: This may be the first study to empirically examine positive affect as an underlying mechanism that lead psychological capital to employee engagement.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Performance Management > Employee Engagement H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2019 11:40
Last Modified:	16 Oct 2019 11:40
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3921

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