Work limitations as a moderator of the relationship between job crafting and work performance: results from an SEM analysis of cross-sectional survey data.
Vidya Sundar, Debra L Brucker
PMID 35852695WHAT IT FOUND
Job crafting predicted better work performance only through higher engagement.
Having work limitations weakened the link between job crafting and performance. Self-directed job changes alone may not overcome the barriers faced by workers with disabilities.
Key findings
01Work limitations significantly weakened the relationship between job crafting and individual work performance.
02Job crafting did not have a significant direct effect on work performance, but predicted higher work engagement, which in turn predicted better performance.
03Readiness to change, specifically adaptability and resourcefulness, was the strongest predictor of whether a worker engaged in job crafting.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that job crafting caused better performance, only that they are related. All data was self-reported, including work performance, which may be biased. The survey was conducted during the pandemic, which may have altered normal workplace interactions and job crafting opportunities. The study did not collect data on whether participants had received formal job crafting training or workplace accommodations.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the findings as evidence that job crafting is ineffective. The study measured natural, self-directed job crafting without any training or support, and found it worked through engagement. It suggests that for workers with disabilities, natural job crafting may be insufficient without the additional support or coaching that formal interventions provide.