Role of Energizing Relationships in Creating Subjective Vitality and Goal Commitment in UK Academics

The importance of positive and high quality relationships has been established in literature, particularly in recent positivity debates. There are many dimensions of positive relationships, one of which is their ability to create energy in the participants. Energy created through such interaction enhances the available resources of an individual. In this study, we propose that energizing connections positively affects goal commitment, which is an important work attitude and essential for successful performance, particularly in a performance-based rewards system. We examine this relationship in academics working in UK universities, where performance is significantly related to setting clear goals and meeting them effectively. We also propose that energizing connections enhance an individual’s level of energy and vitality which in turn affect their motivation towards goals and targets. Therefore, we also explore the mediating effect of subjective vitality on the relationship between energizing connections and goal commitment. All the scales were tested for their construct validity through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and reliability statistics. A total of 365 academics completed a questionnaire from fourteen top ranking UK universities. Hierarchical multiple regression was performed to test the direct and mediation effects on the dependent variable. Results confirm that energizing connections significantly contribute towards goal commitment directly (R2 = .216, F = 9.110, p < 0.01) and through the mediating effect created by subjective vitality (R2 = .255, ΔR2 = .038, F =10.112, p < 0.01). Implications for administrators in higher education institutions and future research are discussed.