Psychometric PropertieS of the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale in Hospital Nurse

Background

Work motivation is an important determinant of nurses’ job performance, well-being, and retention in healthcare organizations. The Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale (MWMS), grounded in Self-Determination Theory, is a widely used instrument to assess different forms of work motivation; however, its psychometric properties have not yet been established among Slovak nurses.

Objectives

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Slovak-language version of the MWMS in a sample of hospital nurses.

Methods

The MWMS was translated from English into Slovak using a forward–backward translation procedure, including expert review and verification of conceptual equivalence. The study was carried out from January to May 2025 among registered hospital nurses in the Slovak Republic (N = 1,023).

Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent and discriminant validity was tested using standardized factor loadings, communalities, and the Fornell–Larcker criterion.

Results

All subscales showed high internal consistency (α = 0.80–0.92). The six-factor structure was supported by CFA (CFI = 0.935; TLI = 0.919; RMSEA = 0.075; SRMR = 0.053), and the standardized factor loadings and communalities provided evidence of convergent validity. Discriminant validity was confirmed using the Fornell–Larcker criterion.

Conclusions

The Slovak version of the MWMS is a reliable and valid instrument to assess motivation to work among hospital nurses. It may be useful in both research and nursing management practice to evaluate motivation and support retention efforts. Future research should examine its applicability among nurses in other healthcare settings and further evaluate measurement invariance in cultural contexts.