Psychological Climate and Work Engagement in Academia : The Mediating Role of Job Crafting

Kanwalpreet Kaur; Sunaina Ahuja; Pawan Kumar; Harish Saini

doi:10.17010/pijom/2025/v18i8/173917

Psychological Climate and Work Engagement in Academia : The Mediating Role of Job Crafting

Authors

Kanwalpreet Kaur Research Scholar, Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara - 144 411, Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8792-2475
Sunaina Ahuja Professor (Corresponding Author), Mittal School of Business and Dean, Human Resource Development Center, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara - 144 411, Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4765-9120
Pawan Kumar Professor, Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara - 144 411, Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7501-3066
Harish Saini Assistant Professor, Chitkara Business School, Chitkara University, Rajpura - 140 401, Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3850-7678

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2025/v18i8/173917

Keywords:

job crafting, work engagement, psychological climate, higher education, social exchange theory, job demand-resources model, Viksit Bharat 2047, sustainable development.
JEL Classification Codes : I23, I28, I31, J24
Publication Chronology: Paper Submission Date : September 5, 2024 ; Paper sent back for Revision : May 5, 2025 ; Paper Acceptance Date : June 10, 2025 ; Paper Published Online : August 14, 2025

Abstract

Purpose : As India envisions becoming a developed nation by 2047, it is imperative to match global higher education standards by improving the quality of training and engagement of faculty members. Hence, this study aimed to create a novel model empirically testing the relationships among psychological climate (PC), job crafting (JC), and work engagement in higher education.

Methodology : The cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 442 academics employed in 32 universities in India. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to investigate the proposed conceptual model in higher education institutions.

Findings : PC directly predicted JC and work engagement. JC positively and significantly mediated the PC-work engagement association. A positive PC triggered the job-crafting behavior of academics, enabling them to go the extra mile and demonstrate high levels of work engagement.

Practical Implications : When academic institutions emphasize enhancing the PC, academics perceive that their well-being is a matter of concern, and they reciprocate by improving their teaching and research-related activities through JC, further leading to an augmented level of work engagement.

Originality : This study offered a novel model at the disposal of the higher education sector to have suitable policies nurturing the PC of academics, leading to JC and work engagement, which could be a key contributor to the sustainable development of the Indian higher education sector.

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Published

2025-08-14

How to Cite

Kaur, K., Ahuja, S., Kumar, P., & Saini, H. (2025). Psychological Climate and Work Engagement in Academia : The Mediating Role of Job Crafting. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 18(8), 8–32. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2025/v18i8/173917

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Issue

Volume 18, Issue 8, August 2025

Section

Articles

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