The contributions of achievement goal orientations and job characteristics on work engagement

The aim of this research is to investigate the contributions of achievement goal orientations (mastery, performance-prove, performance-avoid) and job characteristics (skill variety and autonomy) on work engagement. The data were collected from 296 employees working in organizations functioning in the service sector. The regression analysis indicated that mastery goal orientation is a more powerful predictor of work engagement than performance-prove goal orientation. Performance-avoid goal orientation, on the other hand, was found unrelated to work engagement. The hierarchical regression analyses, applied to examine the interactional contributions of achievement goal orientations and job characteristics on work engagement, indicated that the interactions of autonomy with both mastery and performance-prove goals have significant contributions on work engagement. Skill variety, on the other hand, was found as a variable directly contributing to work engagement.