Personality, work characteristics and employee well-being: A longitudinal analysis of additive and moderating effects.

• DOI: 10.1037/1076-8998.8.1.20
• Publication Date: 2005-10-11T21:06:41Z
• Authors: Inge Houkes; Peter P. M. Janssen; Jan de Jonge; Arnold B. Bakker
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Likelihood Functions; Motivation; 05 social sciences; Personnel Turnover; Social Support; Workload; Models, Psychological; Psychologie (PSYC); EUR ESSB 99; Adaptation, Psychological; 0502 economics and business; Humans; Female; Longitudinal Studies; Occupations; Burnout, Professional; Netherlands; Personality

This study tested the longitudinal influence of personality (measured by the characteristics growth need strength, negative affectivity [NA], and upward striving) on 3 psychological outcomes (intrinsic work motivation, emotional exhaustion, and turnover intention), using a pattern of specific relationships between work characteristics and these outcomes as a framework. The study hypotheses were tested in a multioccupational sample consisting of bank employees and teachers, using a 2-wave panel design with a 1-year time interval and structural equation modeling. NA had a cross-lagged direct and additive relationship with emotional exhaustion and also moderated the relationship between Time 1 workload and Time 2 emotional exhaustion. The authors concluded that NA may have multiple effects on emotional exhaustion that persist over time.