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Mindfulness Practice and Job Performance in Social Workers: Mediation Effect of Work Engagement

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  • Chien-Chung Huang

    (School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Bin Tu

    (Guangdong Research Center for NPO, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China)

  • Huiyu Zhang

    (School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China)

  • Jamie Huang

    (Huamin Research Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

Abstract

Despite a rapid increase in the work force over the last decade, the social work labor force is still suffering through high amounts of stress and burnout that could negatively affect work engagement and job performance in China. A potential solution worth exploring, however, is the practice of mindfulness, a concept based on expanding one’s awareness to target focus without judgement. Using 537 social workers from street-level social work service stations in Guangzhou, China, this paper examines the relation between mindfulness practice and job performance, and whether work engagement mediated the relation through the application of the job demand and resources theory. The findings indicate that that mindfulness practice directly increases work engagement (Beta = 0.33) and has an indirect effect on job performance (Beta = 0.21) through its effect on work engagement that fully mediated the relation between mindfulness practice and job performance. In contrast to formal mindful practices (Beta = 0.13), informal mindful practices (Beta = 0.22) encompass a broader impact on employee performance. The findings suggest that mindfulness practice can effectively be used in workspaces to enhance engagement and performance of social workers in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Chien-Chung Huang & Bin Tu & Huiyu Zhang & Jamie Huang, 2022. "Mindfulness Practice and Job Performance in Social Workers: Mediation Effect of Work Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-12, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10739-:d:900489
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cristián Coo & Marisa Salanova, 2018. "Mindfulness Can Make You Happy-and-Productive: A Mindfulness Controlled Trial and Its Effects on Happiness, Work Engagement and Performance," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 1691-1711, August.
    2. Chienchung Huang & Xiaoxia Xie & Shannon P. Cheung & Yuqing Zhou & Ganghui Ying, 2021. "Job Demands, Resources, and Burnout in Social Workers in China: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Maria Christina Meyers & Dorien Kooij & Brigitte Kroon & Renee Reuver & Marianne Woerkom, 2020. "Organizational Support for Strengths Use, Work Engagement, and Contextual Performance: The Moderating Role of Age," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 485-502, April.
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    Cited by:

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