What motivates individual public service motivation and cooperation at the initial stage of the COVID‐19 outbreak: A cross‐sectional survey

Abstract

Objectives This study assesses the status of public service motivation and explains it's the positive association with public cooperation during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 crisis. Moreover, potential causes of Chinese citizens' public service motivation have been explored. Methods A cross‐sectional survey of 30 provinces in China was conducted using an online questionnaire. The study was conducted in February 2020 during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Socio‐demographic factors, public service motivation, public satisfaction, public confidence, and public cooperation were assessed using questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to identify clusters of interrelationships among public service motivation, public satisfaction, public confidence, and public cooperation among Chinese citizens. Results We found that participants' public satisfaction with COVID‐19‐related public services had a positive association with public confidence ( B = 0.456 , p < 0.001) and public service motivation ( B = 0.177, p < 0.001). Moreover, public confidence regarding anti‐COVID‐19 measures had a positive influence on public service motivation ( B = 0.308 , p < 0.001) while mediating the relationship between public satisfaction and public service motivation. Public service motivation were positively associated with public cooperation with anti‐COVID‐19 measures during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Conclusion A considerably high level of public service motivation among Chinese citizens appeared during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 pandemic, resulting in an increase in public cooperation. Moreover, the findings prove that a high degree of satisfaction with the government's initiatives regarding anti‐COVID‐19 measures encouraged greater personal public service motivation in respondents by increasing confidence in governmental responses and performance.

Mediating Effect of Public Service Motivation and Resilience on the Association Between Work-Related Stress and Work Engagement of Public Workers in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…As revealed in a study, public workers in China were highly motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic and their motivation had a positive correlation with public satisfaction and cooperation. 53 In our research, the PSM measured one year after the outbreak would be higher than the usual state, considering that Korea was regarded as a model of credible national quarantine system during that period. In case public workers have already been encouraged by external factors during the pandemic, consequent changes in PSM due to viral anxiety might not be apparent.…”

Exploring Profiles of Public Service Motivation Among Frontline Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The results of this study differ from previous studies by demonstrating changes in PSM over time in 44% of respondents. This study highlights variability among individuals that previous studies have done little to explore and that the cluster approach provides insight into (e.g., Toubøl et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022).…”

“…This method may cause a sampling bias toward the characteristics of those with an active online presence on social networks, affecting the results of this study. However, during a pandemic, online data collection is a feasible and effective research method (Zhang et al, 2022). Therefore, future research could use an approach with an experimental design with a random sample to reduce the effects of this sampling bias.…”

Analysis of Evaluation Dimensions of Public Service Motivation of Chinese College Students—Qualitative Study Based on Grounded Theory

“…College students are the driving force and reserve force of the country’s high-quality development. People with high PSM perform better at work and in life [ 26 ], so the study of PSM in the context of higher education is important for the development of excellent college students. This study takes Chinese college students as the research objects and conducts qualitative research.…”