A state-trait analysis of job satisfaction:: On the effect of core self-evaluations

Une recherche recente qui portait sur les fondements caracteriels de la satisfaction au travail s’est focalisee sur le rapport entre la satisfaction professionnelle observee et le noyau central des autoevaluations (CSE). Cette etude s’est occupee d’une part de la relation entre la variance-trait de la satisfaction au travail et le CSE et d’autre part de la structure des variables CSE. En faisant le choix d’un modele de mesure longitudinal, nous avons d’abord recherche si le CSE etait suffisamment stable, cela a partir d’une analyse secondaire de quatre periodes successives. Les resultats montrent une forte stabilite du CSE (.87 sur deux ans). Nous avons ensuite opere une scission etat-trait de la satisfaction professionnelle de facon a dissocier la variance-trait de la satisfaction au travail de la variance instable. Le facteur stable de satisfaction professionnelle fut mis en rapport, par regression, avec les variables CSE, en utilisant plusieurs modeles de CSE (une sommation, un facteur latent ou un concept global). D’apres les resultats, il vaut mieux traiter les variables CSE comme une sommation, et cette serie rend compte de presque toute la variance stable de la satisfaction professionnelle (84%). En outre, seuls l’affectivite negative et le locus of control interne avaient un impact significatif, alors que l’estime de soi et l’efficience personnelle n’en avaient pas. On conclut que la conception actuelle du CSE comme concept supraordonne englobant quatre dimensions est defendable, mais trop generale pour les recherches sur la satisfaction professionnelle; il est plus satisfaisant et suffisant d’analyser a la fois l’affectivite negative et le locus of control. Recent research that looked into the dispositional base of job satisfaction focused on relating observed job satisfaction to core self-evaluations (CSE). This study was concerned with (a) the relation between the trait variance of job satisfaction and CSE and (b) the structure of the CSE-variables. Using a longitudinal measurement model in a secondary analysis of four waves of a longitudinal study we first tested whether CSE are sufficiently stable over time. Results indicate a high stability of CSE (.87 across 2 years). We then performed a state-trait decomposition of job satisfaction in order to separate trait variance of job satisfaction from changing variance. The stable job satisfaction factor was regressed on CSE-variables, using different models of CSE (a collective set, a latent factor, or an aggregate concept). Results were in favor of treating the CSE-variables as a collective set, and this set explained almost all stable variance of job satisfaction (84%). Moreover, only negative affectivity and internal locus of control had a significant impact, whereas self-esteem and self-efficacy had not. It is concluded that current conceptualisations of CSE as a superordinate concept underlying its four dimensions is possible but overly broad in job satisfaction research; collective consideration of LOC and NA is better and sufficient.

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