From personal resources to proactive work strategies and performance: testing the antecedents and outcomes of strengths use in a three-wave study
Career Development International
ISSN: 1362-0436
Article publication date: 2 December 2022
Issue publication date: 31 January 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study aims to identify person-contingent antecedents and consequences of proactive strength-oriented behaviors at work. Thus, the authors propose and test a model in which psychological capital (PsyCap), as a personal resource, represents a precursor of strengths use, which in turn is a facilitator of employees' self-rated performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors tested the hypothesized mediation process through a cross-lagged study with three waves, using data collected from a sample of Romanian employees. The authors analyzed the data through structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results provided support for our model. The data showed significant, positive cross-lagged relationships between PsyCap, strengths use and performance across waves. Also, the authors identified a significant and positive indirect effect between PsyCap at T1 and performance at T3 through increased strengths use at T2.
Originality/value
This research brings new evidence for strengths use's placement as a proactive individual strategy within the JD-R theory. Practical implications are related to career self-management and work from home.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI – UEFISCDI Romania, project number PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-1880, within PNCDI III (https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/).
Citation
Pap, Z., Tisu, L. and Vîrgă, D. (2023), "From personal resources to proactive work strategies and performance: testing the antecedents and outcomes of strengths use in a three-wave study", Career Development International, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 55-72. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-06-2022-0146
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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