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Explanatory style and its functional relationship to job satisfaction for employed women aged 40 and over
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to determine if there is a significant relationship between explanatory style and perceived levels of job satisfaction and to examine the effects of education, current job, and length of tenure in the current job on this relationship. This relationship can be used as a predictive tool for older women who are seeking employment or who are contemplating rejoining the workforce. The sample included 135 women aged 40 and over who were employed full-time. Participants were asked to complete the Attributional Style Questionnaire and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (Long Form, 1977). The first research question in the study examined the relationship between explanatory style (independent variable) and general level of job satisfaction (dependent variable). The second research question examined the relationship between explanatory style and the work reinforcers of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire looking for specific relationships among the variables. The remaining research questions examined the relationship between explanatory style and job satisfaction and the effect of mediator variables on this relationship. Mediator variables included one's level of education, current job, and length of tenure in the current job. Results of the present study did not directly support a conclusion that there is a significant relationship between explanatory style and perceived level of general job satisfaction. Results of the study supported weak, but significant relationships between explanatory style and the work reinforcers of ability utilization, activity, and creativity. From these results, it is expected that individuals who exhibit depressive tendencies will receive less satisfaction from their jobs in areas related to ability utilization, activity, and creativity. Mediator variables appeared to have had little affect on the relationship between explanatory style and perceived level of general job satisfaction. It cannot be concluded from this study that perceived level of general employment satisfaction correlates with optimistic or pessimistic explanatory style as measured by the Attributional Style Questionnaire.
Subject Area
Gerontology|Womens studies|Vocational education|Occupational psychology
Recommended Citation
Phelps, Linda Hall, "Explanatory style and its functional relationship to job satisfaction for employed women aged 40 and over" (1993). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9333980.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9333980