Does a positive gain spiral of resources, efficacy beliefs and engagement exist?

The present study among 110 Spanish university students expands previous research on work engagement by investigating the causal relationships between two potentially important resources in the use of Information & Communication Technology (i.e., time control and method control), efficacy beliefs and engagement. More specifically, two questions are addressed: (1) do personal resources mediate the relationship between task resources and work engagement? (2) does engagement increase personal and task resources? Results show that efficacy beliefs play a mediating role between task resources and engagement. Engagement increases efficacy beliefs, which in turn increase task resources over time. These findings suggest a positive gain spiral in which efficacy beliefs play a central role. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.