Psychosocial Predictors of Job Involvement amongst Civil Servants in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated self-efficacy, meaning in life, education and age as predictors of job involvement among civil servants in Nigeria. It adopted survey research design, purposive and convenience sampling techniques respectively. 214 male and female civil servants participated in the study. A structured questionnaire form containing three validated scales of measurement was used as instrument. Hypothesis one stated that self-efficacy and meaning in life will jointly and independently predict job involvement while hypothesis two stated that educational qualification and age will jointly and independently predict job involvement. Results revealed that self-efficacy and meaning in life jointly predicted job involvement F (2,211) = 33.512; R²= 0.234; p <.05. It further showed that meaning in life (?=0.155; t=2.512; p <.05) and self-efficacy (?=0.432; t=7.009; p <.05) independently predicted job involvement. Similarly, educational qualification and age jointly predicted job involvement F (2,211) = 2.730; R²= 0.039; p <.05). Age independently predicted job involvement (?=-0.217; t=-2.275; p <.05) but educational qualification did not (?=0.006; t=0.062; p >.05). Based on the above findings, this study concluded and recommended that self-efficacy, meaning in life and age are significant predictors of job involvement. Hence, directors and managers were advised to design effective manpower training programmes for the employees, to enhance their levels of efficacy, perception of life and job involvement.

Keywords: Age, Civil servant, Education, Job involvement, Meaning in life, Self-efficacy