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01-02-2021 | Original Article

Relationships between effort-reward imbalance and work engagement in police officers: taking a salutogenic perspective

Authors: Christine Wolter, Andreas Santa Maria, Stephanie Georg, Tino Lesener, Burkhard Gusy, Dieter Kleiber, Babette Renneberg

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Aim

Work engagement is an indicator of work-related well-being. Taking a salutogenic perspective, this study aims to examine work engagement within the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model. To foster our understanding of work engagement, we analyzed relationships of the ERI model subscales effort, esteem reward, status reward and security reward as well as overcommitment with global work engagement and its subscales (vigor, dedication, absorption).

Subjects and methods

Eight hundred eleven police officers participated in a cross-sectional health-monitoring survey in a German police department. Regression analyses were conducted.

Results

The ERI ratio was negatively related to measures of work engagement (β = −0.30 to −0.25). Whereas esteem (β = 0.23 to 0.19) and security reward (β = 0.20 to 0.16) positively predicted global work engagement as well as vigor, dedication and absorption, overcommitment showed a negative association with vigor (β = −0.14). The regression models explained up to 23% of the variance in work engagement or its subscales.

Conclusion

An imbalance between effort and reward is associated with reduced work engagement in the sample of police officers. While effort is not accountable for reduced work engagement, esteem and security rewards are capable of promoting work engagement. Workplace interventions at the level of the supervisors and the department as well as public image campaigns may promote rewards in police work to foster work engagement.

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Title: Relationships between effort-reward imbalance and work engagement in police officers: taking a salutogenic perspective
Authors: Christine Wolter
Andreas Santa Maria
Stephanie Georg
Tino Lesener
Burkhard Gusy
Dieter Kleiber
Babette Renneberg
Publication date: 01-02-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Public Health / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-019-01112-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Relationships between effort-reward imbalance and work engagement in police officers: taking a salutogenic perspective

Abstract

Aim

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

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