A research for determining the relationship between work ability, job satisfaction and task performance

The level of suitability of the physiological, psychological, and mental health of the employees to fulfill the requirements of their work is an important condition affecting the business life. This situation has been conceptualized as work ability and has taken place in international literature. However, national literature has been very limited in this regard. In the research, the conceptual foundations of work ability were examined and the work ability index, which is the measurement tool of the related concept, was adapted to Turkish. In addition, the task performance scale used in the research was also adapted to Turkish. The work ability determined through the work ability index, which has a summative construct; it can be divided into levels as poor, moderate, good, and excellent. On the other hand, job satisfaction and task performance scales, which are reflective, consist of one-dimensional structures. In this context, the relationships between work ability levels and job satisfaction and task performance were examined. Besides, direct and indirect effects of work ability on job satisfaction and task performance have been determined. The research was patterned with the quantitative research method and correlational research design. Accordingly, in November 2018, data were collected through the convenience sampling method and cross-sectional, face-to-face survey technique. The sample of the study consists of 555 people working in the institutions that serve in the city center affiliated to Osmaniye Governorship. In addition, direct and indirect effects analysis were carried out by creating 5000 derivative samples with partial least squares structural equation modeling. According to the results, the improvement of work ability levels and the increase in job satisfaction and task performance are related in the same direction. On the other hand, work ability positively contributes to directly predicting job satisfaction and task performance. In addition, work ability positively contributes to indirectly predicting task performance through job satisfaction. This mediation effect determined for the first time is an important finding of the research in terms of its contribution to national and international literature. The theoretical implications of the study were discussed, and suggestions were made to the practitioners in business life, and to further researches.