The economic instrumentality of work: An examination of the moderating effects of financial requirements and sex on the pay-life satisfaction relationship☆

Abstract Congruent with an attempt to better understand the economic instrumentality of work, it was hypothesized that (1) pay satisfaction and life satisfaction are correlated positively; (2) the pay-life satisfaction relationship is moderated by financial requirements such that the relationship is stronger for those with high requirements; and (3) the pay-life satisfaction relationship is jointly moderated by financial requirements and sex such that the relationship is stronger for males with high requirements. Among a sample of managerial and professional workers employed by an insurance company, support for each hypothesis was obtained. The results are discussed in terms of the need to consider further the impact of family configuration and the breadwinner role on workers' reactions to their jobs.

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