Cognitive and affective-motivational states as mediators of the association between presenteeism and job satisfaction

Background: The rising number of people with long-standing illnesses, coupled with increasing retirement ages, may result in more workers suffering from health problems. This is important because health issues may interfere with job satisfaction and worker performance. Although some studies have sought to analyze the antecedents and consequences of presenteeism, very few have focused on exploring how certain cognitive and affective-motivational states (work-health balance, work engagement, flourishing) affect its association with job satisfaction. Given the characteristics of the current job market, it is vital to explore the factors that may contribute to increasing workers’ wellbeing and performance, and ultimately prolonging their working life in a balanced way. Method: Using a cross-sectional sample of 238 healthy workers aged between 20 and 63, the present study analyzed the mediating role of flourishing, the different dimensions of work engagement (vigor, dedication and absorption) and work–health balance in relation to the different dimensions of presenteeism (distraction avoided and work completed) and job satisfaction. Results: The data suggest that work-health balance and the vigor and dedication dimensions of work engagement mediate the association between distraction avoided and job satisfaction, whereas only the vigor and dedication dimensions of work engagement mediate the association between work completed and job satisfaction. Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with our current understanding of the role played by certain cognitive and affective-motivational variables in workers’ occupational health and wellbeing.