Engagement was predicted to be a primary function of personality factors and sub-factors which match its affective and motivational elements, correlational and regression analyses across three studies. Theoretical
frameworks in this area should extend to personal characteristics in addition to covering job
In studying workers’ well-being, attention has traditionally been focused on the construct of
job satisfaction, a relatively passive experience of low-to-moderate activation.
1) defined job engagement as “a positive, fulfilling, affective-motivational state of work related well-being”, and the review by Bakker, Albrecht, and Leiter (2011) identified a “growing consensus that engagement can be defined in terms of high levels of energy and
high levels of involvement in work” theoretical discussions and empirical
investigations have so far emphasized one of those, mainly examining engagement as a
response to characteristics of the job. Thus Schaufeli and Bakker (2004), Shirom (2010) and
others (not denying the role of within-person factors) have investigated key job features such
as autonomy, demands, conflicts and good relations with other people, and Rich, Lepine, and
Crawford (2010) developed and tested a model incorporating organizational support.
However, there is also a need to develop understanding of engagement’s bases within
individuals themselves. More engaged and less engaged workers are likely to differ in certain
2 Found that Conscientiousness alone was significant. Additional information and theorizing are required. job engagement is defined as relatively activated and energized, it can be
predicted that aspects of personality that are themselves more activated and energized will be
reflected in engagement. Thus, in addition to possible associations with the broad factors of
Neuroticism and overall Extraversion (as identified earlier), stronger links with job
engagement are predicted for the more energized components of Extraversion and
Conscientiousness, namely Social Potency and Achievement Orientation.
The engagement studies reported here are unique in distinguishing between
components of those kinds within a comprehensive assessment of all five factors of
personality. Engagement is expected to be primarily associated with three of the Big Five – Emotional Stability, Extra version and Conscientiousness.