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ABSTRACT
This study aims to first, explore the differential effects of three forms of social support (perceived organizational support, perceived supervisory support, and perceived peer support) on nurses' job performance, and second, test the mediating role of work engagement in the social support-job performance relationship. Survey data was gathered from 639 staff nurses from nine private hospitals in Malaysia. Partial least squares technique was used to test the research hypotheses. Results showed that of the three forms of social support, peer support alone has a direct and positive effect on job performance. Further, the results supported the role of work engagement as a mediator in the relationships between the three forms of social support and performance.
Keywords: Job performance; Work engagement; Perceived organizational support; Perceived supervisor support; Perceived peer support; Nurses
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1.Healthcare Scenario in Malaysia
The healthcare sector is one of the world's largest, costly and fastest-growing industry as it constitutes a substantial portion of a country's economy (Kocakulah & Austill, 2007). In Malaysia, the healthcare sector is categorized into two, namely the government healthcare system and the private healthcare system (Ujan, Abdullah, Haider & Suhaimi, 2017). The government healthcare services are tax-funded, subsidized and centrally administered by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Kenny, Omar, Kanavathi & Madhavan, 2017). Meanwhile, the private sector's healthcare services are either paid out-of pocket by the patients themselves, covered by their employers or paid through their personal health insurance scheme (Kenny et al., 2017). Over the years, Malaysia's healthcare delivery system has progresses considerably and currently provides a wide-ranging health services to its residents in an effective and efficient manner (Hassali, Alrasheedy, Ab Razak, Al-Tamimi, Saleem, Ul Haq, & Aljadhey, 2014). Given the prime role played by the healthcare sector in Malaysia, this sector has been identified as one of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) that deserves greater attention. This recognition undoubtedly demonstrates the Malaysian government's commitment in providing quality healthcare services to its citizens (PEMANDU, 2013). Services provided by the Ministry of Health Malaysia comprise illness prevention, health promotion, as well as curative and rehabilitative care (Shazali, Habidin, Ali, Khaidir, & Jamaludin, 2013). Despite the dominance of the public healthcare system, the provision of a well-integrated healthcare services requires the involvement of the private sector....