Factor structure of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale in a sample of Danish and Swedish haemodialysis nurses

Abstract

Background

The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale is a frequently used instrument for measuring work engagement. However, the instrument’s conceptual underpinnings, theoretical clarity and dimensional structure has been criticized, and its construct validity has not been evaluated appropriately in samples of nurses. The study purpose was to assess the psychometric properties of the Utrecht Work Engagement 9-item Scale (UWES-9) in a sample from the haemodialysis nurse population using approaches that take the ordinal nature of the data into account.

Methods

The psychometric properties were evaluated in accordance with classical test theory focusing on data completeness, unidimensionality, scaling assumptions, targeting and reliability. The analyses were conducted using data derived from a cross sectional study.

Results

Missing item responses were < 2%. Exploratory factor analysis based on polychoric correlations and parallel analysis identified one factor. Scaling assumptions were supported based on desirable levels of corrected item-total correlations. The targeting analyses displayed expected score distribution, no floor effect and acceptable ceiling effect. However, the mean total score was above the scale midpoint. The reliability, estimated using Ordinal alpha, was 0.93.

Conclusions

The study findings, evaluated using methods that consider the ordinal nature of the scale ratings, indicate that the UWES-9 is a reliable and valid unidimensional measure with high data completeness, strong internal consistency, and a supported factor structure. These results support the use of the UWES-9 in research and practice for assessing work engagement. However, further studies are recommended to examine its applicability across diverse populations and settings.

Trial registration

Not applicable.