Empowering sustainability in the virtual work landscape: Exploring social support, psychological empowerment and psychological well-being

Abstract

The dynamics of virtual work have become increasingly complex in the ever-changing digital ecosystem, seeking a comprehensive examination of the connections among social support, psychological empowerment (PE) and psychological well-being (PWB). The study explores the multifaceted dynamics present in virtual environments, with particular attention on how PE mediates these relationships and how social support influences PWB by investigating the employees of the IT sector working in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India, a significant player of the global technology market, where remote and virtual work arrangements have been extensively employed. A survey was conducted using Google Docs, with 483 participants responding to personally administered questionnaires. The study’s conceptual framework was built upon the principles of self-determination theory (SDT) and the conservation of resources theory (COR). Confirmatory factor analysis and mediation analysis through structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques were utilized to evaluate the measurement model’s validity and explore the relation among variables. The results highlight the significance of social support in improving employees’ PWB in virtual work situations. Furthermore, the study indicates the existence of direct relationship between social support and well-being, as well as the mediating role of PE. The study reveals that impact, competence and self-determination act as intermediary factors, suggesting their capacity to facilitate the impact of social support on PWB.