The Relationship between Job Insecurity, Burnout, Engagement, and Performance and the Moderating Role of Regulatory Focus and Gender

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined whether job insecurity was related to burnout, engagement, and performance at work. Furthermore, the moderating role of regulatory focus and gender was studied. Data were collected among 270 working adults in The Netherlands. Results were analysed using a multiple regression analysis and a Process moderation analysis. The findings indicated that high quantitative job insecurity is related to increased exhaustion and decreased engagement, whereas qualitative job insecurity is associated with decreased engagement and contextual performance. Furthermore, prevention focus moderated the relationship between job insecurity, engagement and performance, whereas gender moderated only performance. The present study could give insight in the work-related well-being of employees. Results suggest that further research is needed.