Does work engagement mediate the perceived career support- and career adaptability- work performance relationship?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement between the relationship of perceived career support and work performance as well as between the relationship of career adaptability and work performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected form 606 i-generation liquid knowledge workers. They had completed their internship program in the industry for a period of at least one month. Regression analysis was carried out to test the hypothesized framework.

Findings

Most of the results indicated support for the hypotheses. Work engagement was found to be mediating the perceived career support and work performance relationship fully. However, work engagement was found to be mediating the career adaptability and work performance relationship only partially.

Research limitations/implications

Engaging liquid workers plays a crucial role in passing the positive effects of perceived career support and career adaptability to work performance.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that managers may take steps to enhance engagement levels of the employees so that it can help the interns high on perceived career support and career adaptability perform well at work.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is unique that tests and finds the intervening role of work engagement between work performance and the two career-related constructs.

Citation

Gupta, M. (2019), "Does work engagement mediate the perceived career support- and career adaptability- work performance relationship?", Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 310-327. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGOSS-08-2017-0032