Abstract
This study investigates the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of
the Psychological Work Immersion Scale (PWIS) scale within global organisational
contexts. Data were gathered from 19134 working adults in the US, the UK, the
Middle East, Africa, and Australia. To determine the best-fitting factorial model,
a series of traditional ICM-CFA and less restrictive ESEM models were estimated
and systematically compared. The results showed that a bifactor ESEM model, with
one general factor of overall psychological work immersion and nine specific factors
(strategic connection, manager credibility, appreciative feedback, enabling environment,
team relations, strength use, employee voice, recognition and rewards, personal
development) fitted the data best, was reliable and showed strong measurement
invariance across genders and levels of education. The results show that psychological
work immersion is a multidimensional construct that is both a function of
yet separate from a dynamic interaction between the nine performance-enhancing
conditions or enablers. Therefore, The PWIS can be used to measure psychological
work immersion validly and reliably and could be used to make meaningful latent
mean comparisons between genders and different levels of education.