A1 Journal article (refereed)
Can job crafting eLearning intervention boost job crafting and work engagement, and increase heart rate variability? : Testing a health enhancement process (2023)


Seppälä, P., Hakanen, J. J., Virkkala, J., Tolvanen, A., Punakallio, A., Rivinoja, T., & Uusitalo, A. (2023). Can job crafting eLearning intervention boost job crafting and work engagement, and increase heart rate variability? : Testing a health enhancement process. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 28(6), 395-410. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000363


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsSeppälä, Piia; Hakanen, Jari J.; Virkkala, Jussi; Tolvanen, Asko; Punakallio, Anne; Rivinoja, Telma; Uusitalo, Arja

Journal or seriesJournal of Occupational Health Psychology

ISSN1076-8998

eISSN1939-1307

Publication year2023

Publication date26/10/2023

Volume28

Issue number6

Pages range395-410

PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA)

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000363

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially open access channel


Abstract

Applying job demands–resources theory, this quasiexperimental, three-wave study investigated whether work engagement can be increased via an eLearning intervention aiming to increase job crafting behavior. Furthermore, proposing a refinement to job demands–resources theory, that is, adding “a health enhancement process,” this study also investigated whether through improvements in work engagement, the intervention would yield health-related benefits, utilizing an objective indicator of physical health (i.e., optimal functioning of autonomic nervous system activity indicated by increased heart rate variability [HRV]). The study was conducted among all the employees of a municipality (n = 69/experimental group, n = 45/control group), and the effects were assessed 2 weeks and 4 months after the intervention. Job crafting and work engagement were measured using an electronic questionnaire, and HRV using ambulatory monitoring period of two nights’ sleep. Latent change score modeling revealed, as expected, that job crafting increased both immediately and delayed after the intervention. Furthermore, as hypothesized, the intervention increased work engagement via increased job crafting when measured immediately after the intervention, but there was no indirect delayed effect on work engagement. There were no indirect immediate or delayed effects on HRV. However, unexpectedly, HRV decreased among the control group after the intervention. Thus, an eLearning intervention based on the principles of job crafting is a promising tool to increase job crafting and consequently work engagement. Furthermore, the findings provide an initial indication that a job crafting eLearning intervention could have a buffering effect on autonomic nervous system activity and help to maintain its optimal functioning.


Keywordswork engagementwork contentwell-being at workworkworking lifeemployeespulseautonomic nervous systemhealth promotioninterventionoccupational psychology

Free keywordsjob crafting; work engagement; eLearning intervention; heart rate variability; job demands–resources theory


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2023

JUFO rating3


Last updated on 2024-12-10 at 18:15