Proactively shaping your ideal work space A study examining the relationships between cognitive job crafting, work engagement, performance and the mediating role of the fulfilment of ne

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined whether cognitive and behavioural job crafting may lead to work engagement and performance through fulfilment of psychological needs. Data were collected among 131 Dutch employees collected using snowball sampling and via an HR consultancy company for recruitment, selection and talent development that operates within the life sciences and health care branch. Results were analysed using a linear regression analysis and a PROCESS macro analysis. As hypothesized, cognitive job crafting, crafting structural job resources and crafting challenging job demands were positively associated with work engagement and performance via increased fulfilment of psychological needs. Furthermore, crafting hindering job demands and crafting social job resources were not related to increased work engagement and performance. This study is among the first to examine the relationship between cognitive job crafting and work engagement and performance. It is also among the first to examine the role of fulfilment of psychological needs in the relationship between job crafting and work engagement and performance. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.