Job boredom is a common experience at work; however, it has been neglected in research and practice compared to other well-being states. Based on the person-job fit theory, this article aims to examine the association between employees’ perceived overqualification and job boredom, analyzing potential moderators. In Study 1, we analyzed job crafting as a moderator using a sample of 832 employees from different organizations in Puerto Rico. Results supported the relation between employees’ perceived overqualification and job boredom but did not support the moderating effect of job crafting since only two dimensions (i.e., increasing structural resources and increasing challenging demands) significantly moderate this association in an opposite direction. In Study 2, we analyzed the moderating role of meaningful work with a sample of 394 employees. Results supported the moderating effect of meaningful work on the relation between employees’ perceived overqualification and job boredom. While job crafting dimensions of increasing structural resources and increasing challenging demands strengthen or have little effect on reducing the association between employees’ perceived overqualification and job boredom, meaningful work buffers this effect. These findings suggest that organizations must provide opportunities for employees to find meaning in their jobs. Additional research is needed to understand the role of job crafting to reduce job boredom.
El estudio del engagement en el trabajo es cada vez más común en la literatura científica. La estructura factorial del instrumento más utilizado por los investigadores para evaluar el engagement, la Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), ha mostrado múltiples inconsistencias en diversos países. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la UWES en una muestra de 2.796 trabajadores en Puerto Rico. Se examinó la estructura factorial de la escala mediante ecuaciones estructurales, con el método de estimación de máxima verosimilitud. Los resultados muestran que el modelo de tres factores posee un mejor ajuste a los datos de la escala, siendo consistente con la concepción del engagement como constructo compuesto por tres dimensiones: vigor, dedicación y absorción. La validez y la fiabilidad de la UWES son adecuadas, por lo que se concluyó que la escala posee las cualidades para ser utilizada en investigaciones en el contexto laboral puertorriqueño.
ResumenEl aburrimiento laboral es un fenómeno psicosocial que puede afectar a las personas en su trabajo y que se asocia con ambientes poco retadores y de baja estimulación. Para entender mejor este fenómeno, es necesario contar con instrumentos adecuados para su medición. La presente investigación tuvo el propósito de analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Aburrimiento Laboral (EAL): validez de constructo, análisis de confiabilidad, análisis de los ítems, validez convergente y discriminante. Se realizaron tres estudios independientes con una muestra total de 2,032 participantes. El primer estudio evidencia que la EAL posee una estructura unifactorial y una confiabilidad apropiada. El segundo estudio provee evidencia de la validez convergente de la EAL con el Dutch Boredom Scale. El tercer estudio evidencia la validez discriminante de la EAL con la Escala de Engagement en el Trabajo de Utrecht. A la luz de los hallazgos, concluimos que la EAL es un excelente instrumento para medir el aburrimiento en el trabajo. Palabras clave: Aburrimiento Laboral, Psicometría, Medición de Factores Psicosociales.
When work is boring: Analysis of the psychometric properties of Job Boredom Scale ( JBS)Abstract Job boredom can be considered a psychosocial phenomenon that can affect people in their work environment, and that it's related with environments characterized by low challenges and low stimulation. To have a better understanding of the phenomenon of job boredom, an appropriate tool is necessary for its measurement. The aim of the present study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the Job Boredom Scale ( JBS), particularly its construct validity, reliability, item analysis, convergent and discriminant validity. To do this, three independent studies were conducted with a total sample of 2,032 participants. The first study shows that the JBS has a single factor structure, and an appropriate reliability. The second study provides evidence of its convergent validity with the Dutch Boredom Scale. The third study provides evidence of its discriminant validity with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. The findings of these three studies lead us to conclude that the JBS is an excellent measure of job boredom.
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