Analysis of Working Conditions to Improve the Work Engagement of Care Staff at Long-term Care Insurance Facilities: Focusing on “Job Demands” and “Job Resources”

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between work engagement and working conditions for care staff working at long-term care insurance facilities for three years or longer. Care staff at 72 facilities were surveyed and responses were received from 284 care staff members. The questionnaire consisted of questions based on a modified Job Demands-Resources Model. Responses were subjected to a multiple regression analysis, which indicated that several factors increased work engagement. “Work-self balance”(positive), which is a “job resource at the organizational level,” and “job suitability,” “meaningfulness of work,” “role clarity,” and “career opportunities,” which are “job resources at the task level,” significantly affected work engagement. These findings indicate that working conditions need to be created for care staff to feel that their work is meaningful rather than fostering factors, such as team and interpersonal relationships, which are “job resources at the workgroup level.”