Reciprocal longitudinal associations among workplace social capital, career calling and work engagement in nurses: A three-wave cross-lagged panel study
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Aim: To examine the longitudinal relationships among workplace social capital, career calling and work engagement in nurses. Design: A three-wave longitudinal observational study. Methods: A three-wave survey was conducted among 464 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Hebei Province, China. Workplace social capital, career calling, and work engagement were measured at six-month intervals using validated scales. Cross-lagged panel models were used to examine time-ordered associations and longitudinal mediation effects among the three variables, adjusting for covariates. Results: Workplace social capital, career calling and work engagement showed temporal stability. Workplace social capital predicted later career calling and work engagement mainly from T1 to T2. Career calling and work engagement showed reciprocal longitudinal associations. Work engagement also predicted later workplace social capital and career calling. Indirect effect analysis identified significant longitudinal pathways, suggesting that career calling and work engagement served as key mechanisms linking earlier environmental, cognitive and behavioural factors to later outcomes. Conclusion: This study indicates a dynamic pattern of longitudinal associations among workplace social capital, career calling and work engagement in nurses. Work engagement appeared to play an important linking role rather than functioning solely as an outcome variable. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: Nursing managers should adopt integrated strategies that strengthen workplace relationships, professional meaning and work engagement to support workforce stability and quality of care. Impact: This study addresses longitudinal evidence on how nurses’ social work environment, professional meaning and work engagement influence one another over time. The findings provide evidence for strategies to promote nurses’ engagement and professional development. Reporting Method: STROBE Statement. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution was involved.
