Social support and work engagement: a study of Malaysian nurses.

AIM

This study addressed the question of whether social support (supervisor support and co-worker support) could contribute to the variance in work engagement.

BACKGROUND

Nurses, as customer-contact employees, play an important role in representing the organization's competence. Their attitudes and behaviour toward patients has a significant influence on patients' satisfaction and perception of quality of service.

METHODS

The sample comprised 402 staff nurses working in three general hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia. Variables included demographic information, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and Social Support Scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations and regression analysis.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that supervisor support was positively related to work engagement. Co-worker support was found to have no effect on work engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

Supervisory support is an important predictor of work engagement for nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing management should provide more training to nurse supervisors and develop nurse mentoring programmes to encourage more support to nurses.