The Moderating Effect of Work Engagement on Organizational Citizenship Behavior through Psychological Capital: Empirical Evidence from the Higher Education Sector
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61987/bamj.v4i2.2226Keywords:
Work Engagement, Psychological Capital, Organizational Citizenship BehaviorAbstract
This study develops and empirically tests a conceptual framework explaining how work engagement influences Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) in higher education institutions, with Psychological Capital (PsyCap) as a moderating variable. The study is important because higher education institutions increasingly depend on faculty members who are willing to demonstrate discretionary behaviors beyond formal job requirements to enhance institutional effectiveness, adaptability, and long-term competitiveness. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Social Exchange Theory (SET), PsyCap comprising hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism is positioned as a strategic internal resource that strengthens the translation of engagement into sustained discretionary behaviors. Using SmartPLS 4, data from 262 faculty members across private universities in Lahat, Palembang, and Pagar Alam were analyzed. Results show that work engagement significantly predicts OCB (t = 2.494, p = 0.013), while PsyCap alone does not exert a direct effect (t = 0.473, p = 0.636). However, the interaction term PsyCap × Work Engagement demonstrates a strong moderating effect (t = 5.82, p = 0.000), with R² = 0.913 and f² = 0.319, confirming excellent predictive accuracy. These findings highlight PsyCap as strategic capital that amplifies engagement into citizenship behaviors, offering theoretical enrichment and practical implications for institutional resilience and competitiveness.
References
Abdou, A. H., Ali, H. S. A. M., & Kamel, N. J. (2023). From Green Inclusive Leadership to Green Organizational Citizenship: Exploring the Mediating Role of Green Work Engagement and Green Organizational Identification in the Hotel Industry Context. Sustainability, 15(20), 14979. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014979
Aras, I., A. A., I., Barusman, A. R. P., & Defrizal, D. (2025). Improving Higher Education Performance Through Strategic Collaboration and Intellectual Capital: A Path to Competitive Advantage. EKOMBIS REVIEW: Jurnal Ilmiah Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 13(3), 2073–2084. https://doi.org/10.37676/ekombis.v13i3.8142
Awalia, F. Y., & Yanuar, Y. (2024). The Influence of Employee Engagement and Organizational Support on Employee Performance Mediated by Organizational Citizenship Behavior. International Journal of Application on Economics and Business, 2(2), 3308–3317. https://doi.org/10.24912/ijaeb.v2i2.3308-3317
Barokah, R. A., Kartawan, Sutisna, D., & Pratminingsih, S. A. (2025). Work-Life Balance and Its Influence on Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Performance in Indonesian Higher Education. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 102102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102102
Batara, I., Hartati, E., & Fitriadi, H. (2024). The Influence of Education, Coaching, Work Culture and Employee Attitudes on the Work Performance of Employees of Puskesmas Tanjung Raya Muara Enim. Jurnal Akuntansi, Manajemen dan Bisnis Digital, 3(2), 225–232. https://doi.org/10.37676/jambd.v3i2.6541
Chaudhary, R., & Sisodia, S. (2022). The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Employee Engagement Mediated by Organisational Citizenship Behaviour and Employee Culture: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(8), 7178–7204.
Cid, D. T., do Carmo Fernandes Martins, M., Dias, M., & Fidelis, A. C. F. (2020). Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24): Preliminary Evidence of Psychometric Validity of the Brazilian Version. Psico-USF, 25(1), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-82712020250106
Cristian, M. B. P., & Nuvriasari, A. (2025). The Effect of Employee Engagement, Organizational Commitment, and Work Motivation on Organizational Citizenship Behavior. Arthatama: Journal of Business Management and Accounting, 9(2), 480–493. https://doi.org/10.54518/art.9.2.2025.966
Dasgupta, M., & Dey, A. K. (2024). Work Engagement and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Job Crafting. International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.1504/IJICBM.2024.137934
Felani, H. O., & Nugroho, S. H. (2023). Supporting the Influence of Psychological Capital and Transformational Leadership on Organizational Citizenship Behavior. Jurnal Ilmiah Pangabdhi, 9(2), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.21107/pangabdhi.v9i2.22844
Firdaus, L., Sabri, M. F., Jimad, H., & Ahadiat, A. (2025). Exploring Impact of Transformational Leadership, Engagement, and Commitment on Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Evidence from Indonesian Labor Unions. International Journal of Business and Society, 26(2), 772–792. https://doi.org/10.33736/ijbs.7834.2025
Halat, D. H., Soltani, A., Dalli, R., Alsarraj, L., & Malki, A. (2023). Understanding and Fostering Mental Health and Well-Being Among University Faculty: A Narrative Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(13), 4425. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12134425
Iooti, M. (2026). Organizational Citizenship Behavior Measure. Psychological Scales.
Istiqomah, I., & Nasution, Y. (2025). Leveraging Psychological Capital as a Personal Resource to Enhance Happiness at Work and Drive Extra-Role Behaviors. Indonesian Interdisciplinary Journal of Sharia Economics (IIJSE), 8(3).
Jufrizen, Khair, H., & Sari, A. P. (2023). Work Engagement: Determinants and Its Effect on Organizational Citizenship Behavior. Jurnal Manajemen, 27(2), 254–275. https://doi.org/10.24912/jm.v27i2.1130
Juwita, S., Tentama, F., & Yuliasesti, E. (2023). The Effect of Organizational Climate and Work Engagement on Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) Through Work Motivation as a Mediator Variable for Special School Teachers. Jurnal Neo Konseling, 5(2), 100–106. https://doi.org/10.24036/00750kons2023
Ludwikowska, K., Zakkariya, K. A., & Aboobaker, N. (2025). Academic Leadership and Job Performance: The Effects of Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Informal Institutional Leadership. Asian Education and Development Studies, 14(1), 115–131. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-04-2024-0074
Malar J, S. J. (2024). A Study on Workplace Ostracism, Psychological Capital and Its Impact on Work Engagement. International Scientific Journal of Engineering and Management, 3(5), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.55041/isjem01789
Mohammed, I. S., Wuni, A., & Chanayireh, L. (2025). Work Engagement: The Key Driver in Transforming Organizational Commitment into Enhanced Work Performance Among Midwives in Ghana—A Structural Equation Modelling Approach. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13062-4
Osman, Z., & Yatam, M. (2024). Fostering Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Among Employees in Higher Education Institutions. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v13-i2/21325
Permatasari, A. W., & Kusmaryani, R. E. (2025). Employee Engagement as a Predictor of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) in a CV in East Java. Al Qalam: Jurnal Ilmiah Keagamaan dan Kemasyarakatan, 19(6), 3308–3321. https://doi.org/10.35931/aq.v19i6.5225
Pham, N. T. B., Le, T. T., Nguyen, H. T. H., Phan, A. T. T., & Nguyen, H. N. (2024). The Effect of Interactional Justice on Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Vietnam: A Mediating Role of Work Engagement. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(4), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.04.005
Purnomo, & Pranitasari, D. (2024). The Role of Work Engagement in Mediating Organizational Culture and Self-Efficacy on Commitment at PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara. Jurnal Ecoment Global, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.36982/jeg.v9i2.4473
Purwanto, S., Wibowo, A., & Suharti, T. (2023). The OCB Determinant of Employees in Non-Profit Organization: Leadership Role and Work Engagement. Inovator, 12(2), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.32832/inovator.v12i2.17632
Qalati, S. A., Zafar, Z., Fan, M., Sánchez Limón, M. L., & Khaskheli, M. B. (2022). Employee Performance Under Transformational Leadership and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Mediated Model. Heliyon, 8(11), e11374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11374
Rahman, M. H. A., & Karim, D. N. (2022). Organizational Justice and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement. Heliyon, 8(5), e09450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09450
Sabeng, D. A., & Mensah, J. V. (2023). Job Satisfaction and Characteristics Among Staff of Public Higher Educational Institutions in Ghana. Cogent Education, 10(2), 2226457. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2226457
Samad, A., Muchiri, M., & Shahid, S. (2022). Investigating Leadership and Employee Well-Being in Higher Education. Personnel Review, 51(1), 57–76. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2020-0340
Schaufeli, W., & Bakker, A. (2004). UWES Utrecht Work Engagement Scale: Preliminary Manual.
Syafrudin, S., Suharyati, H., & Suhendra, S. (2026). Servant Leadership, Knowledge Management, and Gotong Royong Culture as Predictors of Teachers' Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Mediating Role of Trust and Work Motivation. Business and Applied Management Journal, 4(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.61987/bamj.v4i1.2068
Taghpour, A., Mirghasemi, R., & Zarrinrad, E. (2024). The Relationship Between Psychological Capital and Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Interpersonal Deviant Behavior: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement.
Zarnegarian, Y. (2024). The Mediating Role of Islamic Work Ethics in the Effect of Psychological Capital on Organizational Citizenship Behavior. QEIOS Учредители: Qeios Ltd, 6(11) https://doi.org/10.32388/JFI02P.2
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ivan Batara, Iskandar Ali Alam, Andala Rama Putra Barusman, Defrizal Defrizal, Helmita Helmita
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
