Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Construct Validity of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale: Multisample and Longitudinal Evidence

  • Published:
Journal of Happiness Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the factor structure and factorial group and time invariance of the 17-item and 9-item versions of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES; Schaufeli et al. (2002b) Journal of Happiness Studies 3:71–92). Furthermore, the study explored the rank-order stability of work engagement. The data were drawn from five different studies (N = 9,404), including a three-year longitudinal study (n = 2,555), utilizing five divergent occupational samples. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized correlated three-factor structure—vigor, dedication, absorption—of both UWES scales. However, while the structure of the UWES-17 did not remain the same across the samples and time, the structure of the UWES-9 remained relatively unchanged. Thus, the UWES-9 has good construct validity and use of the 9-item version can be recommended in future research. Moreover, as hypothesized, Structural Equation Modeling showed high rank-order stabilities for the work engagement factors (between 0.82 and 0.86). Accordingly, work engagement seems to be a highly stable indicator of occupational well-being.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakker, A. B., Hakanen, J. J., Demerouti, E., & Xanthopoulou, D. (2007). Job resources boost work engagement, particularly when job demands are high. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99, 274–284. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.99.2.274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 588–606. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A., & Long, J. S. (1993). Introduction. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 1–9). Newbury Park, CA: Sage, cop.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boomsma, A. (2000). Reporting analyses of covariance structures. Structural Equation Modeling, 7, 461–483. doi:10.1207/S15328007SEM0703_6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage, cop.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, E. K., & Watson, D. (2001). Emotion, mood, and temperament: Similarities, differences, and a synthesis. In R. L. Payne & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Emotions at work: Theory, research and applications for management (pp. 21–43). Chichester: Wiley, cop.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakanen, J. (2002). Työuupumuksesta työn imuun—positiivisen työhyvinvointikäsitteen arviointimenetelmän suomalaisen version validointi opetusalan organisaatiossa [From burnout to work engagement—validation of the Finnish version of an instrument for measuring work engagement (UWES) in an educational organization]. Työ ja ihminen, 16, 42–58.

  • Hakanen, J. J., Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2005). How dentists cope with their job demands and stay engaged: The moderating role of job resources. European Journal of Oral Sciences, 113, 479–487. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0722.2005.00250.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakanen, J. J., Bakker, A. B., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2006). Burnout and work engagement among teachers. Journal of School Psychology, 43, 495–513. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2005.11.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallberg, U. E., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2006). “Same same” but different? Can work engagement be discriminated from job involvement and organizational commitment? European Psychologist, 11, 119–127. doi:10.1027/1016-9040.11.2.119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyle, R. H., & Panter, A. T. (1995). Writing about structural equation models. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and application. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, cop.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K. G. (2005). Structural equation modeling with ordinal variables using LISREL (2nd ed.). Retrieved February 28, 2008, from http://www.ssicentral.com/lisrel/techdocs/ordinal.pdf.

  • Jöreskog, K., & Sörbom, D. (1996a). LISREL 8: User’s reference guide. Chicago: Scientific Software International, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K., & Sörbom, D. (1996b). PRELIS 2: User’s reference guide. Chicago: Scientific Software International, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinnunen, U., Feldt, T., & Mäkikangas, A. (2008). Testing the effort-reward imbalance model among Finnish managers: The role of perceived organizational support. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 13, 114–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langelaan, S., Bakker, A. B., Van Doornen, L. J. P., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2006). Burnout and work engagement: Do individual differences make a difference? Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 521–532. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.07.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laursen, B., & Hoff, E. (2006). Person-centered and variable-centered approaches to longitudinal data. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 52, 377–389. doi:10.1353/mpq.2006.0029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Llorens, S., Schaufeli, W., Bakker, A., & Salanova, M. (2007). Does a positive gain spiral of resources, efficacy beliefs and engagement exist? Computers in Human Behavior, 23, 825–841. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2004.11.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson, D. (1998). The logic and implications of a person-oriented approach. In R. B. Cairns, L. R. Bergman, & J. Kagan (Eds.), Methods and models for studying the individual: Essays in honour of Marian Radke-Yarrow (pp. 33–64). Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage, cop.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., Jackson, S. E., & Leiter, M. P. (1996). MBI: Maslach Burnout InventoryManual (3rd Rev. ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

  • Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (1997). The truth about burnout: How organizations cause personal stress and what to do about it. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397–422. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mauno, S., Kinnunen, U., Mäkikangas, A., & Nätti, J. (2005). Psychological consequences of fixed-term employment and perceived job insecurity among health care staff. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 14, 209–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauno, S., Kinnunen, U., & Ruokolainen, M. (2007). Job demands and resources as antecedents of work engagement: A longitudinal study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 70, 149–171. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2006.09.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meredith, W. (1964). Notes on factorial invariance. Psychometrika, 29, 177–185. doi:10.1007/BF02289699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meredith, W. (1993). Measurement invariance, factor analysis and factorial invariance. Psychometrika, 58, 525–543. doi:10.1007/BF02294825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satorra, A., & Bentler, P. M. (2001). A scaled difference chi-square test statistic for moment structure analysis. Psychometrika, 66, 507–514. doi:10.1007/BF02296192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W. B. (2007a). Literature list engagement. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from http://www.Schaufeli.com.

  • Schaufeli, W. B. (2007b). Tests. Retrieved February, 28, 2008, from http://www.Schaufeli.com.

  • Schaufeli, W., & Bakker, A. (2003). UWES Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Preliminary Manual [Version 1, November 2003]. Utrecht University: Occupational Health Psychology Unit.

  • Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire. A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66, 701–716. doi:10.1177/0013164405282471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W., & Enzmann, D. (1998). The burnout companion to study and practice: A critical analysis. London: Taylor & Francis, cop.

  • Schaufeli, W. B., Martínez, I. M., Pinto, A. M., Salanova, M., & Bakker, A. B. (2002a). Burnout and engagement in university students: A cross-national study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 33, 464–481. doi:10.1177/0022022102033005003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W., & Salanova, M. (2007). Work engagement: An emerging psychological concept and its implications for organizations. In S. W. Gilliland, D. D. Steiner, & D. P. Skarlicki (Eds.), Research in social issues in management (Volume 5): Managing social and ethical issues in organizations (pp. 135–177). Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002b). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3, 71–92. doi:10.1023/A:1015630930326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Positive psychology, positive prevention, and positive therapy. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 3–9). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2003). Positive psychology: Fundamental assumptions. The Psychologist, 16, 126–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, N., Barling, J., & Zacharatos, A. (2002). Positive psychology at work. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 715–728). New York: Oxford University Press.

  • Warr, P. (1990). The measurement of well-being and other aspects of mental health. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63, 193–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xanthopoulou, D., Bakker, A. B., Kantas, A., & Demerouti, E. (in press). The measurement of burnout and work engagement: A comparison of Greece and The Netherlands. New Review of Social Psychology.

  • Yu, C.–Y. (2002). Evaluating cutoff criteria of model fit indices for latent variable models with binary and continuous outcomes. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from http://www.statmodel.com/download/Yudissertation.

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Yrjö Jahnsson foundation (Grant No.: 5459), Emil Aaltonen foundation, and The Finnish Work Environment Fund (Grant No.: 107200; Project No.: 104129, 105325, 105363).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Piia Seppälä.

Appendix

Appendix

 

figure a

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seppälä, P., Mauno, S., Feldt, T. et al. The Construct Validity of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale: Multisample and Longitudinal Evidence. J Happiness Stud 10, 459–481 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9100-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9100-y

Keywords

Navigation