Relationships Between Human Energy and Work-Related Constructs: A Meta-Analysis

Human energy (HE) is embedded in various theories and has been widely studied in organizational psychology research. This meta-analysis examines the nomological network of individual HE at work and investigates whether different conceptualizations of HE, such as vigor and vitality, show comparable patterns of associations with work-related constructs when assessed with different measures.

Analyzing 198 studies, the findings revealed that HE is positively and moderately to strongly associated with positively connoted construct categories, including job and organizational resources, job attitudes, and performance. In contrast, HE is negatively associated with negatively connoted construct categories, such as negative well-being and negative work-related intentions and behaviors. Relationships with job stressors varied, suggesting that future research should distinguish more carefully between different types of stressors.

The meta-analysis also compared the nomological network of HE with those of engagement and thriving, two related constructs that include HE as part of their multidimensional conceptualizations. The results showed notable alignment between the nomological networks of HE, engagement, and thriving, pointing to substantial empirical overlap. At the same time, the findings suggest that individual HE at work, as a parsimonious and mostly unidimensional construct, may offer advantages over comparable multidimensional constructs.

Overall, the findings contribute to a clearer understanding of individual HE at work and its relationships with key work-related constructs. They also highlight the importance of carefully considering the conceptualization, theoretical foundation, and measurement of HE. Future research should transparently report how HE is measured to enhance construct clarity and support cumulative research in this area.

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