Psychosocial safety climate, work engagement and organizational commitment in Malaysian research universities: the mediating role of job resources

Abstract

Purpose

The current study is an examination of the effects of psychosocial safety climate on work engagement, organisational commitment and to mediate job resources in Malaysian research universities (RUs) during pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this study consisted of full-time lecturers who work in Malaysian RUs at least a year. A sampling technique was used to select the respondents for this study. A total of 1,000 questionnaires were administered to respondents from 5 Malaysian RUs with 484 usable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 48.4%.

Findings

The present study’s objective is to examine psychosocial safety climate’s (PSC) effect, job resources on work engagement and organizational commitment. The study also aims to test the mediating roles of job resources on PSC’s relationship, work engagement and organizational commitment. It is interesting to note that the relationship between PSC and work engagement was not significant.

Research limitations/implications

Although the present study had contributed to the existing literature, the present study’s result cannot be generalized. Suggestions for future research include an attempt to conduct a study over three-time points that looks at both the employee’s perspective, managerial perspective and organizational perspective within the workplace. All correlation and cross-sectional studies identified the need for a comprehensive three-wave study to examine the model’s longitudinal effects accurately.

Practical implications

The finding shown that university is suggested to apply higher PSC to allow their management discover more ways to increase the adequate job resources to support lecturers in RUs and in improving their work engagement and organizational commitment.

Originality/value

The integration of PSC in academicians of Malaysian RUs provides a novel perspective.

Citation

Gan, K.H. and Kee, D.M.H. (2022), "Psychosocial safety climate, work engagement and organizational commitment in Malaysian research universities: the mediating role of job resources", Foresight, Vol. 24 No. 6, pp. 694-707. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-01-2021-0019