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 editors: Seppälä, Piia; Hakanen, Jari J.; Virkkala, Jussi; Tolvanen, Asko; Punakallio, Anne; Rivinoja, Telma; Uusitalo, Arja
Journal or series: Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
ISSN: 1076-8998
eISSN: 1939-1307
Publication year: 2023
Publication date: 26/10/2023
Volume: 28
Issue number: 6
Pages range: 395-410
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000363
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially 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.
Keywords: work engagement; work content; well-being at work; work; working life; employees; pulse; autonomic nervous system; health promotion; intervention; occupational psychology
Free keywords: job crafting; work engagement; eLearning intervention; heart rate variability; job demands–resources theory
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2023
JUFO rating: 3