Abstract
In the current study, we examined whether the link between perceived person-environment (PE) fit and meaning in work would vary to the extent individuals placed importance on intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations. Among 655 Chinese employees, we found that the more individuals valued intrinsic aspirations, the stronger the association was between PE fit and meaning in work. The importance individuals placed on extrinsic aspirations, however, had a negative partial correlation with meaning in work. In addition, variations in meaning in work further predicted perceptions of meaning in life. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Notes
Other variables irrelevant to the current paper were also measured. Details can be obtained from the first author.
Perceived fit did not significantly moderate the association between extrinsic aspirations and meaning in work, β = − .03, t = − .99, p = .32.
The interaction can also be interpreted as PE fit moderated the effect of intrinsic aspirations on meaning in work. Specifically, importance of intrinsic aspirations predicted meaning in work when PE fit was low (1 SD below mean), β = .29, t = 3.51, p < .001, and this association was even stronger when PE fit was high (1 SD above mean), β = .50, t = 4.08, p < .001.
However, it may be worth noting the hypothesized interaction and indirect effects were significant even after controlling for job satisfaction (which could be considered a more affective index; see Table 2). Moreover, a supplementary analysis that included the interaction between job satisfaction and intrinsic aspirations as an additional covariate revealed the interaction of interest (i.e., between PE fit and intrinsic aspiration) remained significant. Taken together, this suggests PE fit is a unique predictor of meaning in work over and above affective job evaluations. Interested readers are encouraged to contact the first author for more details.
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This research is supported by grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China allocated to the first author (Grant No. 31400899).
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Appendix
Appendix
1.1 Items to Measure PE fit
These statements are about people’s perceptions of their job. Please indicate how much each statement describes you on the scale below.
1.2 Items to Measure Personal Aspirations
Everyone has long-term Goals or Aspirations. These are the things that individuals hope to accomplish over the course of their lives. In this section, you will find a number of life goals. Please tell us how important each goal is to you.
1.3 Items to Measure Meaning in Work
These statements are about people’s perceptions of their job. Please indicate how much each statement describes you on the scale below.
1.4 Items to Measure Meaning in Life
These statements are about how people experience their life. Please indicate how much each statement describes you on the scale below.
1.5 Items to Measure Job Satisfaction
These statements are about how people evaluate their job. Please indicate how much each statement describes you on the scale below.
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Zhang, H., Chen, K., Chen, C. et al. Personal Aspirations, Person-Environment Fit, Meaning in Work, and Meaning in Life: A Moderated Mediation Model. J Happiness Stud 20, 1481–1497 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0005-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0005-0