Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BioPsychoSocial Medicine 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Job crafting, work engagement, and psychological distress among Japanese employees: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Asuka Sakuraya, Akihito Shimazu, Hisashi Eguchi, Kimika Kamiyama, Yujiro Hara, Katsuyuki Namba, Norito Kawakami

Published in: BioPsychoSocial Medicine | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Job crafting, an employee-initiated job design/redesign, has become important for employees’ well-being. However, most studies on the relationship between job crafting and employees’ well-being have been conducted in western countries; thus, it is unclear whether job crafting can be effectively applied to Asian cultures, such as Japan, which emphasizes group harmony. The aim of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations of self-reported job crafting with work engagement and psychological distress among employees in Japan.

Method

A questionnaire survey through the internet was conducted among all employees of a manufacturing company in Japan. We analyzed the data from 894 respondents, all employees with regular employment. Job crafting, work engagement, and psychological distress were assessed using the Japanese version of the Job Crafting Questionnaire, the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), and the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), respectively.

Result

Hierarchical multiple regression showed that increasing structural job resources, social job resources, and challenging job demands was significantly and positively associated with work engagement (β = 0.31, p < 0.001; β = 0.14, p < 0.001; β = 0.36, p < 0.001, respectively). For psychological distress, increasing structural job resources was significantly and negatively associated with psychological distress (β = -0.15, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that increasing structural job resources is associated with higher work engagement and lower psychological distress. In addition, increasing social job resources and challenging job demands are also associated with higher work engagement.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Grant AM, Parker SK. 7 redesigning work design theories: the rise of relational and proactive perspectives. Acad Manag Ann. 2009;3:317–75.CrossRef Grant AM, Parker SK. 7 redesigning work design theories: the rise of relational and proactive perspectives. Acad Manag Ann. 2009;3:317–75.CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Demerouti E. Design Your Own Job Through Job Crafting. Eur Psychol. 2014;19:237–47.CrossRef Demerouti E. Design Your Own Job Through Job Crafting. Eur Psychol. 2014;19:237–47.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Japanese Ministry of Health L, and Welfare. Release of Results of the Fiscal 2013 Basic Survey of Human Resources Development; 2013. Japanese Ministry of Health L, and Welfare. Release of Results of the Fiscal 2013 Basic Survey of Human Resources Development; 2013.
5.
go back to reference Japanese Ministry of Health L, and Welfare. Service Guide (English) 2016, 2016. Japanese Ministry of Health L, and Welfare. Service Guide (English) 2016, 2016.
6.
go back to reference Wrzesniewski A, Dutton JE. Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Acad Manage Rev. 2001;26:179–201. Wrzesniewski A, Dutton JE. Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Acad Manage Rev. 2001;26:179–201.
7.
go back to reference Tims M, Bakker AB, Derks D. Development and validation of the job crafting scale. J Vocat Behav. 2012;80:173–86.CrossRef Tims M, Bakker AB, Derks D. Development and validation of the job crafting scale. J Vocat Behav. 2012;80:173–86.CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Bakker AB, Demerouti E. The job demands-resources model: State of the art. J Manage Psychol. 2007;22:309–28.CrossRef Bakker AB, Demerouti E. The job demands-resources model: State of the art. J Manage Psychol. 2007;22:309–28.CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Demerouti E, Bakker AB, Nachreiner F, Schaufeli WB. The job demands-resources model of burnout. J Appl Psychol. 2001;86:499–512.CrossRefPubMed Demerouti E, Bakker AB, Nachreiner F, Schaufeli WB. The job demands-resources model of burnout. J Appl Psychol. 2001;86:499–512.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Van den Broeck A, De Cuyper N, De Witte H, Vansteenkiste M. Not all job demands are equal: Differentiating job hindrances and job challenges in the Job Demands–Resources model. Eur J Work Organ Psy. 2010;19:735–59.CrossRef Van den Broeck A, De Cuyper N, De Witte H, Vansteenkiste M. Not all job demands are equal: Differentiating job hindrances and job challenges in the Job Demands–Resources model. Eur J Work Organ Psy. 2010;19:735–59.CrossRef
11.
go back to reference LePine JA, Podsakoff NP, LePine MA. A meta-analytic test of the challenge stressor–hindrance stressor framework: An explanation for inconsistent relationships among stressors and performance. Acad Manage J. 2005;48:764–75.CrossRef LePine JA, Podsakoff NP, LePine MA. A meta-analytic test of the challenge stressor–hindrance stressor framework: An explanation for inconsistent relationships among stressors and performance. Acad Manage J. 2005;48:764–75.CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Tims M, Bakker AB, Derks D. The impact of job crafting on job demands, job resources, and well-being. J Occup Health Psychol. 2013;18:230–40.CrossRefPubMed Tims M, Bakker AB, Derks D. The impact of job crafting on job demands, job resources, and well-being. J Occup Health Psychol. 2013;18:230–40.CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Schaufeli WB, Salanova M, González-Romá V, Bakker AB. The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. J Happiness Stud. 2002;3:71–92.CrossRef Schaufeli WB, Salanova M, González-Romá V, Bakker AB. The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. J Happiness Stud. 2002;3:71–92.CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Crawford ER, LePine JA, Rich BL. Linking job demands and resources to employee engagement and burnout: a theoretical extension and meta-analytic test. J Appl Psychol. 2010;95:834–48.CrossRefPubMed Crawford ER, LePine JA, Rich BL. Linking job demands and resources to employee engagement and burnout: a theoretical extension and meta-analytic test. J Appl Psychol. 2010;95:834–48.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Van Hooff ML, Van Hooft EA. Boredom at work: Proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom. J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19:348–59.CrossRefPubMed Van Hooff ML, Van Hooft EA. Boredom at work: Proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom. J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19:348–59.CrossRefPubMed
16.
go back to reference Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB, Van Rhenen W. How changes in job demands and resources predict burnout, work engagement, and sickness absenteeism. J Organ Behav. 2009;30:893–917.CrossRef Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB, Van Rhenen W. How changes in job demands and resources predict burnout, work engagement, and sickness absenteeism. J Organ Behav. 2009;30:893–917.CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Petrou P, Demerouti E, Peeters MC, Schaufeli WB, Hetland J. Crafting a job on a daily basis: Contextual correlates and the link to work engagement. J Organ Behav. 2012;33:1120–41.CrossRef Petrou P, Demerouti E, Peeters MC, Schaufeli WB, Hetland J. Crafting a job on a daily basis: Contextual correlates and the link to work engagement. J Organ Behav. 2012;33:1120–41.CrossRef
18.
go back to reference Chen C-Y, Yen C-H, Tsai FC. Job crafting and job engagement: The mediating role of person-job fit. Int J Hosp Manag. 2014;37:21–8.CrossRef Chen C-Y, Yen C-H, Tsai FC. Job crafting and job engagement: The mediating role of person-job fit. Int J Hosp Manag. 2014;37:21–8.CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Nakane C. Japanese society. Berkeley: Univ of California Press; 1970. p. 40–62. Nakane C. Japanese society. Berkeley: Univ of California Press; 1970. p. 40–62.
20.
go back to reference Hofstede GH, Hofstede G. Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions and organizations across nations. California: Sage; 2001. Hofstede GH, Hofstede G. Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions and organizations across nations. California: Sage; 2001.
21.
go back to reference Markus H, Kitayama S. Culture and the Self Implications for Cognition. Emotion Motiv Psychol Rev. 1991;98:224–53. Markus H, Kitayama S. Culture and the Self Implications for Cognition. Emotion Motiv Psychol Rev. 1991;98:224–53.
22.
go back to reference Eguchi H, Shimazu A, Bakker AB, Tims M, Kamiyama K, Hara Y, et al. Validation of the Japanese version of the job crafting scale. J Occup Health. 2016;58:231–40.CrossRefPubMed Eguchi H, Shimazu A, Bakker AB, Tims M, Kamiyama K, Hara Y, et al. Validation of the Japanese version of the job crafting scale. J Occup Health. 2016;58:231–40.CrossRefPubMed
23.
go back to reference Shimomitsu T, Yokoyama K, Ono Y, Maruta T, Tanigawa T. Development of a novel brief job stress questionnaire. Report of the research grant for the prevention of work-related diseases from the Ministry of Labour, Kato S, editor; 1998. p. 107–15. Shimomitsu T, Yokoyama K, Ono Y, Maruta T, Tanigawa T. Development of a novel brief job stress questionnaire. Report of the research grant for the prevention of work-related diseases from the Ministry of Labour, Kato S, editor; 1998. p. 107–15.
24.
go back to reference Shimazu A, Schaufeli W, Kosugi S, Suzuki A, Nashiwa H, Kato A, et al. Work engagement in Japan: validation of the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Appl Psychol. 2008;57:510–23.CrossRef Shimazu A, Schaufeli W, Kosugi S, Suzuki A, Nashiwa H, Kato A, et al. Work engagement in Japan: validation of the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Appl Psychol. 2008;57:510–23.CrossRef
25.
go back to reference Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB. Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi‐sample study. J Organ Behav. 2004;25:293–315.CrossRef Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB. Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi‐sample study. J Organ Behav. 2004;25:293–315.CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Lazarus RS. Coping theory and research: Past, present, and future. Psychosom Med. 1993;55:234–47.CrossRefPubMed Lazarus RS. Coping theory and research: Past, present, and future. Psychosom Med. 1993;55:234–47.CrossRefPubMed
27.
go back to reference Spector PE. Method variance in organizational research truth or urban legend? Organ Res Methods. 2006;9:221–32.CrossRef Spector PE. Method variance in organizational research truth or urban legend? Organ Res Methods. 2006;9:221–32.CrossRef
28.
go back to reference Bakker AB, Tims M, Derks D. Proactive personality and job performance: The role of job crafting and work engagement. Hum Relat. 2012;65:1359–78.CrossRef Bakker AB, Tims M, Derks D. Proactive personality and job performance: The role of job crafting and work engagement. Hum Relat. 2012;65:1359–78.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Job crafting, work engagement, and psychological distress among Japanese employees: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Asuka Sakuraya
Akihito Shimazu
Hisashi Eguchi
Kimika Kamiyama
Yujiro Hara
Katsuyuki Namba
Norito Kawakami
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BioPsychoSocial Medicine / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1751-0759
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-017-0091-y

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

BioPsychoSocial Medicine 1/2017 Go to the issue