Buffer and booster? Testing PSM’s role in job demands-resources theory

Ulrich Thy Jensen; Ann Louise Holten

doi:10.1080/14719037.2023.2248128

Buffer and booster? Testing PSM’s role in job demands-resources theory

Ulrich Thy Jensen^*, Ann Louise Holten

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Political Science

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Public service motivation (PSM) is a resource that energizes individuals to do good for others and society. However, it is unclear when and how PSM is associated with performance: Does PSM work as a booster to amplify the positive role of job resources for work engagement and performance? Or does PSM help sustain high performance by buffering against experienced cynicism resulting from job demands or the absence of job resources? Using survey data from Denmark, we offer descriptive results suggesting that PSM mainly works to buffer against the detrimental effects of job demands on cynicism and of cynicism on performance.

Original language	English
Journal	Public Management Review
Volume	27
Issue	1
Pages (from-to)	317-339
Number of pages	23
ISSN	1471-9037
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2023.2248128
Publication status	Published - 2025

Keywords

cynicism
jobdemands-resources theory
performance
Public service motivation
work engagement

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Buffer and booster? Testing PSM’s role in job demands-resources theory

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