This study has been examining the role of social support in the experience of work engagement. The sample is consisted of 5041 – 5250 (aged 46 years, 52.7% were women) participants of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 – study. Social support was examined at work (colleague, supervisor) and in private life (spouse, relative, and friend). The data was analyzed using linear regression analysis. The results revealed an association between higher social support at work and higher work engagement (<.001) and higher social support in private life and higher work engagement (<.001) when adjusting for gender, marital status, education and occupational status. Job strain and effort- reward imbalance was also controlled but the results remained unchanged. The findings indicate that social support may play a role in the experience of work engagement.
