Is Work–Family Enrichment Important to Social Workers’ Life Meaning? A Serial Mediation Model of Self-Efficacy and Work Engagement

Abstract

Abstract Prior research has predominantly centred on the negative conflicts of the interplay between work and family obligations, with limited attention paid to the concept of work–family enrichment, particularly within the context of social work. Furthermore, little is known about the underlying mechanisms through which work–family enrichment influences social workers’ life meaning. To address these gaps, this study endeavours to scrutinise the serial mediation pathway involving self-efficacy and work engagement in elucidating the relationship between work–family enrichment and life meaning. A sample of 1,023 social workers (mean age = 36.24) is methodically selected through a multistage cluster random sampling approach in Hangzhou City, China. The empirical results provide evidence supporting a serial mediation path from self-efficacy with work engagement is posited to operate between work–family enrichment and life meaning. These findings hold both theoretical and practical significance, offering insights relevant to social workers, supervisors and their organisations.