Fostering psychological well-being and igniting work motivation in employees: gender as moderator

In today's rapidly evolving work environments, organisations recognize the critical importance of fostering psychological well-being and igniting work motivation among their employees. This study aims to explore the role of gender as a buffering effect in the association between employees’ psychological well-being and its work motivation. The study comprised 385 Malaysian public sector personnel as participants. While psychological well-being and work motivation are universal concerns, gender differences may shape the ways in which individuals perceive and respond to various organisational strategies and practices aimed at enhancing these outcomes. The study's results reveal a significant relationship between psychological well-being and employees' motivation, indicating that individuals with higher levels of environmental mastery exhibit greater drive and enhanced performance in the workplace. Interestingly, the study finds that female employees tend to have slightly lower levels of motivation compared to their male counterparts, although the difference is not statistically significant. These findings hold valuable implications for professionals and policymakers, shedding light on the intricate interplay between work motivation, individual performance, and well-being, particularly in the public sector. Furthermore, the study delves into the practical applications of human capital and organisational behaviour, offering actionable insights for leveraging these concepts to optimize employee motivation and productivity.