The joint role of locus of control and perceived financial need in job search

Guided by economic rational choice theory and the behavioral coping literature, the present study examined contrasting perspectives of the role of job-search locus of control (J

Team Achievement Goals and Sports Team Performance

This study focuses on team achievement goals and performance outcomes in interdependent sports teams. Team achievement goals reflect shared motivational states that exist exclusively at the team level. In a survey among 310 members of 29 premier-league field-hockey teams, team-level performance-approach, performance-avoidance, mastery-approach, and mastery-avoidance achievement goals explained 69% of the overall variance in team performance and 16% after controlling for previous performance. Teams performed better to the extent they were more approach- and less avoidance oriented in terms of both mastery and performance, although mastery-approach goals related to early-season team performance rather than predicting later changes in team performance

Predictors and outcomes of job search behavior: The moderating effects of gender and family situation

This study explored differences in the antecedents and consequences of job search behavior depending on gender and family situation in a large, nationwide sample of the Dutch population. Using Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behavior (TPB), we found no gender differences in the antecedents of job seeking. However, family situation did affect the relations in the TPB, such that personal attitude was a slightly weaker, and perceived social pressure a stronger predictor of job seeking for individuals with families than for singles. Concerning the consequences, job search behavior significantly predicted the chances of finding (new) employment, but not job satisfaction in the new job and the level of agreement between the obtained and wanted job

The Cross-cultural Generalizability of the Theory of Planned Behavior: a study on job seeking in The Netherlands

This study examined the cross-cultural generalizability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as applied to job seeking, by comparing samples of native-Dutch and Turkish individuals in The Netherlands. Results supported the equivalence of the measures used. Moreover, the TPB ­relationships were found to be comparable across the two samples. Contrary to the predictions, intentions of Turkish individuals were not affected more by subjective norms and less by job search attitudes then those of native-Dutch individuals. The Netherlands The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a widely used theoretical framework that details the determinants of human behavior (Ajzen, 1991). Meta-analysis demonstrated its validity in the prediction of a large variety of social behaviors (Armitage & Conner, 2001). Also in the context of job seeking, research has confirmed the validity of the TPB (e.g., Van Ryn & Vinokur, 1992). Studies on the TPB typically use Western samples, and job seeking has been studied almost exclusively from a Western point of view. Therefore the current study focused on the cross­cultural generalizability of the TPB in the context of job seeking. Job seeking is an important aspect of people’s work lives as it determines the opportunity set of potential jobs from which job seekers may choose, and influences employment outcome

Job search and the theory of planned behavior: Minority – majority group differences in The Netherlands

The labor market in many Western countries increasingly diversifies. However, little is known about job search behavior of 'non-traditional' applicants such as ethnic minorities. This study investigated minority – majority group differences in the predictors of job search behavior, using the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985). Data were collected in a two-wave longitudinal design among 697 temporary employees in The Netherlands. Results showed that the ethnic minorities’ perceptions of social pressure predicted intentions to search for a (new) job more strongly than their personal attitudes did. The opposite was found in the native-Dutch group. Self-efficacy did not contribute to the prediction of job search intention. Job search behavior related significantly to job search outcomes, such as job attainment

Bridging the gap between intentions and behavior: Implementation intentions, action control, and procrastination.

In the context of Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behavior, the antecedents of intentions are better understood than the antecedents of behavior. The current study aimed to improve the understanding of the transition from intentions to behavior. Based on the work of Gollwitzer (1993), Kuhl and Beckmann (1994), and Lay (1986) we proposed a model of mediators (i.e., implementation intentions) and moderators (i.e., action–state orientation and trait procrastination) in the intention–behavior relation. The model was applied to job seeking, and tested using longitudinal survey data of a sample of unemployed individuals in The Netherlands (N = 175). Support was found for the proposed mediating role of implementation intentions in the relation between job search intention and job search behavior. The proposed moderating roles of action–state orientation and trait procrastination were not supported

Testing a Self-Compassion Intervention Among Job Seekers: Self-Compassion Beneficially Impacts Affect Through Reduced Self-Criticism

Job search is associated with various obstacles and difficulties that can elicit negative emotions and undermine positive emotions. Having self-compassion may benefit job seekers’ well-being by stimulating more balanced emotional responses to negative job search experiences. In an intervention study we examined whether state self-compassion can be increased among job seekers through wri