Workplace Social Support and Work Engagement Among Japanese Workers

Abstract

Objectives We investigated the relationship between employees’ perceptions of the number of sources of workplace social support and work engagement and whether each type of workplace social support is independently related to work engagement. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey in Japan. In total, 12,017 participants were analyzed. Participants were asked about 4 sources of workplace social support: supervisors, colleagues/subordinates, occupational health staff, and external counselors contracted by the workplace. Work engagement was measured using the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Coefficients were estimated using multiple regression analyses. Results The coefficient of work engagement increased as the number of sources of perceived workplace social support increased. Each support was also positively related to work engagement. Conclusions Organizations should develop systems comprising various sources of workplace social support to increase employee work engagement.