Work engagement and effectiveness of university professors: a comparison between before and during the Covid-19 confinement period

Purpose - This study aimed to analyze and compare the relationship between the dimensions of work engagement and work effectiveness before and during the confinement period. Design/methodology/approach - A quantitative study was conducted to gather primary data from a population of professors working in higher education at Brazilian universities (n = 1,147). Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling using partial least squares, along with data comparison analyses, were performed for the analysis. Findings – The study found that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, vigor and dedication were positively related to professors’ effectiveness, whereas absorption showed no significant relationship. During the pandemic, both dedication and absorption became significant, but vigor did not. Engagement levels increased significantly across all dimensions, although perceived effectiveness did not show a meaningful change. These results highlight a shift in the engagement-effectiveness relationship during confinement. Originality – This study offers significant theoretical and practical contributions by comparing work engagement and effectiveness across distinct contexts. It enhances the understanding of how external disruptions, such as a pandemic, reshape academic work dynamics and emphasizes the role of dedication and absorption in sustaining effectiveness under remote conditions.