Employee Personality, Job Crafting, and Work Boredom: A Mediation Analysis

Abstract

Work boredom is a growing concern in emotionally intensive occupations, particularly in public service roles with high psychological demands and limited structural autonomy. This study investigates the relationship between employee personality traits, job crafting behaviors, and work boredom, with a specific focus on the mediating role of job crafting. Drawing on Trait Activation Theory and the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) Model, this research proposes that personality influences affective states indirectly through proactive behavioral mechanisms. Using a quantitative, population-based approach, data were collected from 13 civil servants at UPT Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak in Provinsi Riau. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) was employed to analyze the data. The results demonstrate that personality significantly predicts job crafting, and job crafting significantly reduces work boredom. However, the direct effect of personality on boredom was not statistically significant, indicating a full mediation by job crafting. These findings underscore the importance of fostering behavioral adaptability among employees and suggest that personality-based interventions must be complemented by efforts to promote job crafting. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how employees can construct meaningful work experiences, even in environments characterized by emotional strain and procedural rigidity.