Academic researchers’ work stress and work engagement: Hindrance stress appraisal mediation and psychological resilience moderation

Abstract

We explored the role of hindrance stress appraisal and psychological resilience in the relationship between work stress and work engagement among academic researchers. Data were collected from academic researchers in China (n = 314; female = 48.7%; professor = 10.8%, associate professor = 25.8%, assistant professor = 63.4%). The regression analysis findings indicated high work stress contributed to low work engagement. Hindrance stress appraisal played a partial mediating role between work stress and work engagement, for lower work engagement. Psychological resilience moderated the relationship between work stress and work engagement, for higher work engagement. Psychological resilience moderated the indirect mediating effect of hindrance stress appraisal between work stress and work engagement, for higher work engagement. These findings indicate a need for work resourcing for resilient work engagement of research communities for their healthy work stress and productive work engagement.