Investigating the Impact of Perceived Social Support from Supervisors and Co-workers on Work Engagement Among Nurses in Private Healthcare Sector in Bangladesh: The Mediating Role of Affective Commitment

Abstract

This study examined the role of workplace social support from supervisors and co-workers on work engagement of nurses in the private healthcare sector in Bangladesh through the mediating role of affective commitment. Data were collected from 271 nurses and analysed through structural equation modelling. The results reported that affective commitment partially mediated the relationship between supervisory support and work engagement, and fully mediated the relationship between co-worker support and work engagement. Healthcare organisations need to make sure that trained supervisors and co-workers are available in the workplace that can increase collaboration and cooperation among nurses. This study, grounded on job demand–resources theory and social exchange theory, contributes to extend the existing service research by studying the mediating mechanism of affective commitment integrating perceived supervisory support and perceived co-worker support to the work engagement of nurses.