Met expectations and supplies-values fit of Dutch young adults as determinants of work outcomes

Many studies have shown that work outcomes, such as job satisfaction and turnover intentions, are affected by met expectations and the fit between the work values of an employee and the supplies offered by the organization. However, research that investigates their simultaneous effects on work outcomes is absent in the literature. This study examined the concurrent effects of met expectations and supplies-values (S-V) fit of Dutch young adults on job satisfaction and intention to leave. It was hypothesized that met expectations as an outcome of a cognitive evaluation process would explain variance in affective work outcomes beyond and above that predicted by measures of S-V fit and main effects of job supplies and work values. Results supported this hypothesis. Theoretical and practical implications of these results directions for future research are discussed. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd

If you want a job, don’t just search hard, search systematically: A field study with career starters

After finishing school, career starters face the challenge of finding a job. Job search is a difficult process because there is no clear pathway to obtaining employment. We identify job search systematicity, in addition to job search intensity, as an important dimension of job search behaviour that may predict the likelihood of obtaining a job. Job search systematicity is defined as the extent to which people have an adaptable and persistent rather than a volatile and fortuitous approach towards job seeking. We explored whether job search systematicity relates to increased chances of obtaining employment and explored potential antecedents of job search systematicity (i.e., job search clarity, employment commitment, anticipated financial need, and affect). The results of our field study among 217 job seeking career starters using a five-wave correlational design show that job search systematicity positively relates to job attainment, controlling for job search intensity. Moreover, job search clarity, employment commitment, and activating affect (both positive and negative) were positively associated with job search systematicity. These findings extend theory by broadening the conceptualization of job search, and inform job seeking career starters and employment and career counsellors about how to approach the job search process.</p

Adolescents’ and Parents’ Regulatory Focus as Determinants of Future Time Perspective on School and Professional Career

Future time perspective (FTP) - individuals' orientation towards future goals and consideration of future consequences - is a successful motivator in education and work. This study is the first that integrates Regulatory focus (RF) theory with FTP theory to explore relationships between adolescents' RF, their perceptions of parents' RF, and their FTP on school and professional career. A total of N = 347 adolescents participated in the study. Structural equation analyses showed that adolescents' promotion RF was positively related to FTP on school and professional career, whereas adolescents' prevention RF was negatively related to their FTP. Adolescents' perceptions of parent regulatory foci were related to their own regulatory foci. Specifically, when adolescents perceived that their parents stimulate them to take on challenges, they were more promotion focused and contemplated more strongly on their future school and career. Implications for FTP and RF theory, and child development and education are discussed

Work changes and employee age, maladaptive coping expectations, and well-being: a Swedish cohort study

PURPOSE: Older workers are expected to suffer more from work changes than younger ones, but empirical evidence is lacking. Negative responses to work changes may result rather from maladaptive coping expectations. This study examined possible age differences in job and life satisfaction, and sleep disturbances, after work changes (voluntary and involuntary job changes, reorganizations) and the moderating role of maladaptive coping expectations. METHODS: Four biennial waves from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) including respondents who participated in all four waves (n = 3084). We used multilevel path analyses to estimate direct and moderated relationships between work changes and outcomes. RESULTS: Involuntary job changes were associated with lower job and life satisfaction and more sleep disturbances. Reorganizations were only associated with lower job satisfaction. Older employees were more satisfied with their jobs and lives than younger employees and experienced more sleep disturbances. After involuntary job changes, older employees had similar (lower) levels of well-being as younger ones, but they reported more sleep disturbances when having experienced reorganizations. Maladaptive coping expectations were related to lower job and life satisfaction and more sleep disturbances. Employees with maladaptive coping expectations reported more sleep disturbances after involuntary job changes and reorganizations. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there are few age differences in well-being after work changes. Employee well-being seems to mostly depend on maladaptive coping expectations. Organizations aiming to prepare employees for job changes and reorganizations could focus their efforts on employees with maladaptive expectations rather than on older ones