THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT ON WORK ENGAGEMENT OF NURSING INTERNS: A MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL
Keywords:
Nursing interns, Organizational support, Work engagement, Psychological capital, Clinical preceptorshipAbstract
This study examined how organizational support affects work engagement among nursing interns, as well as the mediating role of psychological capital in this relationship. Its goal was to provide practical guidance for clinical nursing preceptorship. A total of 375 nursing interns completed questionnaires assessing organizational support, psychological capital, and work engagement. Correlation analyses revealed that organizational support was positively associated with both work engagement (r = 0.477, p < 0.01) and psychological capital (r = 0.581, p < 0.01). Work engagement was also positively correlated with psychological capital (r = 0.752, p < 0.01). Regression results showed that organizational support significantly predicted work engagement (B = 0.450, p < 0.001). When psychological capital was added to the model, however, the direct effect of organizational support became non-significant (B = 0.057, p = 0.152), whereas its indirect effect via psychological capital remained significant (Effect = 0.393, 95% CI [0.283, 0.508]). These results support a full mediation effect. Our findings suggest that clinical nursing education programs should focus on developing interns’ psychological capital to improve their work motivation. Strategies such as psychological capital training, stress management, resilience building, and supportive feedback, empowerment, and recognition from preceptors can strengthen interns’ self-efficacy and coping abilities. In turn, these efforts help organizational support more effectively promote work engagement among nursing interns.References
[1] Zhao S, Liang QL, Tao H, et al. Transition shock among nursing interns and its relationship with patient safety attitudes, professional identity, and climate of caring: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing, 2024, 23(1): 64. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-01722-5.
[2] Hosen S, Hamzah S R A, Ismail I A, et al. Training & development, career development, and organizational commitment as the predictor of work performance. Heliyon, 2024, 10(1): e23903. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23903.
[3] Rhoades L, Eisenberger R. Perceived organizational support: a review of the literature. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2002, 87(4): 698-714. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.87.4.698.
[4] Zhang S, Zhang X, Zhang L, et al. Burnout in transition: A qualitative study of nursing interns’ experiences and implications for clinical management. Journal of Nursing Management, 2026(1): 6694491. DOI: 10.1155/jonm/6694491.
[5] Wang XX, Liu L, Zou FT, et al. Associations of occupational stressors, perceived organizational support, and psychological capital with work engagement among Chinese female nurses. BioMed Research International, 2017, 2017: 5284628. DOI: 10.1155/2017/5284628.
[6] Blau P M. Exchange and Power in Social Life. New York: Wiley, 1964.
[7] Luo D, Song YL, Cai X, et al. Nurse managers' burnout and organizational support: the serial mediating role of leadership and resilience. Journal of Nursing Management, 2022, 30(8): 4251-4261. DOI: 10.1111/jonm.13852.
[8] Moustafa M A, Elrayah M, Aljoghaiman A, et al. How does sustainable organizational support affect job burnout in the hospitality sector? The mediating role of psychological capital. Sustainability, 2024, 16(2): 840. DOI: 10.3390/su16020840.
[9] Nylén-Eriksen M, Grov E K, Bjørnnes A K. Nurses' job involvement and its association with continuing in their current position: a descriptive comparative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2020, 29(13-14): 2699-2709. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15294.
[10] Luthans F, Avolio B J, Avey J B, et al. Positive psychological capital: measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 2007, 60(3): 541-572. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x.
[11] Hobfoll S E. Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 1989, 44(3): 513-524. DOI: 10.1037/0003-066X.44.3.513.
[12] Karababa B, Bedir D. Investigating the effect of psychological capital perception on perceived stress and sports burnout: a study on football players. Research in Sports Science, 2025, 15(1): 1-6. DOI: 10.5152/rss.2025.24030.