The Mediating Role of Work Engagement in the Relationship between Job Autonomy and Citizenship Performance

This study was aimed to examine the mediating effect of employee work engagement in the Job Autonomy-Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) link. Drawing upon the Job Characteristics Theory (Hackman & Oldham, 1975) and the Social Exchange Theory (Blau, 1964), this study specifically examined the direct effect of Job Autonomy on OCB and the indirect effect of Job Autonomy on OCB through Work Engagement as the mediator. A total of 646 nursing and clinical employees holding non-supervisory jobs in 3 public hospitals in Malaysia participated in this study. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between Job Autonomy and OCB. Work Engagement was found to partially mediate the relationships between Job Autonomy and OCB. Theoretical implications, limitations of the study and the directions for future research were discussed