Challenged by great expectations? Examining cross-level moderations and curvilinear influences in the public sector job demands-resources model

This article extends the job demands–resources model in the public sector by including (a) cross-level (moderation) effects of job demands and resources, (b) positive and non-linear effects of job demands and (c) vitality as a key work engagement concept. Data on expected contributions and developmental rewards in public university colleges (n= 65 teams, n = 219 employees) reveals individual-level higher expected contributions are associated with higher performance, mediated by vitality. This mediation is stronger in the presence of more team-level developmental rewards, suggesting a cross-level moderated
mediation. We find indications for curvilinear effects of expected contributions. Contrary to expectations, these effects do not show inverted U-shapes, but rather exponential relations. Our results contribute to ‘bringing in a psychological perspective’ in public administration and suggest public leaders could apply the job demands resources model as a practical tool and vitality as a metric to create healthy and effective work environments.