EXPLORING THE MEDIATING ROLE OF WORK ENGAGEMENT IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN JOB CHARACTERISTICS AND JOB SATISFACTION OF BUSINESS EDUCATORS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The study examined the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction among business educators in Southeast Nigerian universities. Guided by one research question and hypothesis, the correlational survey design was adopted to explore these relationships. The study's research question asked about the mediating influence of work engagement on the relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction, while the hypothesis posited that work engagement does not significantly mediate this relationship. The study population included 122 business educators across federal and state universities in Southeast Nigeria, comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. The census sampling technique was utilized due to the manageable population size. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from validated psychological scales, comprising 41 items across clusters measuring job demands, job resources, work engagement, and job satisfaction. Instrument reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's Alpha, with coefficients ranging from .799 to .852, indicating high reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 and Process Macro for SPSS version 34.1, employing Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Bias Corrected bootstrapping techniques. The findings revealed that work engagement did not significantly mediate the relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that governments develop and implement policies to ensure a favorable balance between job demands and resources in educational institutions. Additionally, increased funding for educational resources and professional development programs was suggested to enhance the job resources available to business educators.