Job stress and work engagement

This article gives an overview of the recently introduced concept of work engagement: a positive, fulfilling, affective motivational state of work-related well-being. I first define engagement as a state including vigor, dedication, and absorption, and then refer to how engagement differs from related concepts (i.e., burnout and workaholism). Work engagement is a unique concept that is best predicted by job resources (e.g., autonomy, supervisory coaching, performance feedback) and personal resources (e.g., optimism, self-efficacy, self-esteem) and is predictive of psychological/physical health, proactive organizational behavior, and job performance. The most often used instrument to measure engagement is the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, a self-report instrument that has been validated in many countries across the world. The paper closes with practical implications to improve work engagement in terms of job and personal resources.