To explore the relationship between work connectivity behavior after-hours, self-regulatory fatigue and work engagement of nurses, so as to provide reference for developing strategies to improve nurses′work engagement.

This was a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 661 nurses from 10 hospitals in Shandong Province were selected as subjects by convenience sampling method from June to August 2022. The Work Connectivity Behavior After-hours Scale, Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale and Work Engagement Scale were used to measure the work connectivity behavior after-hours, self-regulatory fatigue level and work engagement level. A structural equation model was constructed to evaluate the mediating effect of self-regulatory fatigue on work connectivity behavior after-hours and work engagement.

The scores of work connectivity behavior after-hours, self-regulatory fatigue and work engagement of nurses were (37.66 ± 7.05), (42.98 ± 10.55) and (34.29 ± 6.58) points, respectively. The total effect of work connectivity behavior after hours on work engagement was -0.336 6. The work connectivity behavior after-hours was positively correlated with self-regulatory fatigue (r = 0.423, P<0.01) and work engagement was negatively correlated with work connectivity behavior after-hours and self-regulatory fatigue (r = -0.361, -0.479, both P<0.01). Self-regulatory fatigue had a partial mediating effect on work connectivity behavior after-hours and work engagement, accounting for 46.61% of the total effect.

Self-regulatory fatigue has a mediating effect on the relationship between nurses′ work connectivity behavior after-hours and work engagement. Nursing managers should reduce the degree of self-regulatory fatigue of nurses by preventing their work connectivity behavior after-hours, so as to improve the work involvement level of nurses.

Nurses; Work connectivity behavior after-hours; Self-regulatory fatigue; Work engagement