Demands, Resources and the Three Dimensions of Flow at Work. A Study among Professional Nurses

Within the healthcare context is very important to foster the dynamics leading to positive experiences at work, in order to promote work motivation and well-being. This study investigated the influence of some personal and job resources and of some job demands on the three dimensions (absorption, work enjoyment, intrinsic work motivation) of flow at work, on the basis of Job Demands-Resources Model. Flow at work is an inner experience arising during an activity in which people are immersed, feel motivated and enjoy it. Studies suggest that resources are the main antecedents of the flow experience. Respondents to the questionnaire were 197 nurses. Multiple regressions were performed to detect the resources and the demands that influence the three dimensions of flow at work. As expected, resources positively influenced the dimensions of flow at work, particularly work enjoyment. Job demands positively influenced absorption and negatively influenced the other two dimensions of flow at work. Human resources managers should promote flow at work supporting the availability of resources and monitoring the job demands.