oa Kwantitatieve en kwalitatieve baanonzekerheid: samenhangen met arbeidstevredenheid en psychisch welzijn

Quantitative and qualitative job insecurity: associations with job satisfaction and well-being

Y. Handaja & H. De Witte, Gedrag & Organisatie, volume 20, June 2007, nr. 2, pp. 137-159

This study analyses the associations between both quantitative and qualitative job insecurity and job satisfaction and psychological ill-being. We also analyse whether the relationship between job insecurity and psychological ill-being is mediated by job satisfaction. A more subtle and differentiated measurement of qualitative job insecurity is used, in which insecurity is measured regarding four aspects: the job content, working circumstances, working conditions and social relations. Data gathered among Belgian bank employees are used to test the hypotheses. The results show that both quantitative and qualitative job insecurity are negatively associated with job satisfaction and positively associated with psychological ill-being. The relationship between job insecurity and psychological ill-being is only partially mediated by job satisfaction. This signifies that the impact of job insecurity exceeds the boundaries of work, since it exerts an autonomous impact on the psychological well-being of individual workers. Limitations of the research and recommendations for further research are discussed.