TITLE:
Work Engagement in High-Risk Work Environments: The Roles of Work-Family Conflict and Job Demand-Control Characteristics among Energy Sector Employees
AUTHORS:
Emel Kesim
KEYWORDS:
Work Engagement, Work-Family Conflict, Job Demand-Control Model, Decision Latitude, Energy Sector, Türkiye
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.4,
July
16,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study examined the predictive effects of work-family conflict dimensions (work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict) and Karasek’s job characteristics (workload, skill utilization, and decision latitude) on the work engagement dimensions of vigor and dedication among employees in the energy sector. The study was conducted with 579 employees working in an energy company located in Zonguldak, Türkiye. Data were collected using the Work-Family Conflict Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), and Karasek’s Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships among the study variables. The findings indicated that work-family conflict was negatively associated with vigor and dedication, whereas decision latitude and skill utilization were positively associated with both dimensions. Decision latitude emerged as the strongest predictor of vigor and dedication. In contrast, workload did not demonstrate a significant relationship with either vigor or dedication. Work-to-family conflict was negatively associated with employees’ motivational investment in their work. Overall, the findings suggest that employees’ levels of vigor and dedication are associated not only with work-related stressors but also with organizational resources such as autonomy, participation in decision-making processes, and opportunities for skill utilization. The study contributes to the literature by examining work-family conflict and Karasek-based job characteristics together within a high-risk occupational context.