Abstract
The “aging population” implies an increased proportion of older professionals and a growing demand for healthcare services. Healthcare professionals are often highly committed to their work which can be reflected in high levels of workaholism, being a double-edged sword that can prompt both positive and negative mechanisms, differently affecting younger and older healthcare workers. The present study aims to gain insights into the relationships between healthcare professionals' age, workaholism and job satisfaction, by estimating the sequential mediating roles of workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion. We used original survey data, including information on 750 healthcare professionals. Overall, the negative relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction was shown to be sequentially (and partially) mediated by workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion. Multi-Group SEM analyses revealed differences across three age groups (under 35; between 35 and 50; over 50). Only in the two younger age groups, we found a direct and positive relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction. In all age groups, we found the negative relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction to be sequentially (and partially) mediated by workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion. The indirect effects were relatively stronger in the younger age group. Workaholism can prompt both a “gain spiral” and “a loss spiral” among healthcare professionals. The first reflects workaholism to function as a job resource fostering job satisfaction (only for the two younger age groups). The second reflects workaholism to function as a job demand reducing job satisfaction. This mechanism was shown to be stronger with an increasing age.
Highlights
All over the world, the impact of the aging and dejuvenization of the working population on the labor market is felt strongly by healthcare organizations and their staff
Emotional exhaustion was significantly correlated with job satisfaction
Based on the results of our preliminary analyses, we concluded that it is meaningful to test the mediation paths running from workaholism to job satisfaction via workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion
Summary
The impact of the aging and dejuvenization of the working population on the labor market is felt strongly by healthcare organizations and their staff (cf. Camerino et al, 2006; Wang and Shi, 2014). Both aging and dejuvenization have led to a growing demand for healthcare services, posing higher workloads, and emotional demands on professionals in the healthcare sector (Glomb et al, 2004; Uthaman et al, 2016; Hodgkin et al, 2017), who are aging themselves (Buchan et al, 2015). Healthcare professionals’ job satisfaction has been shown to be a core factor in achieving high quality of service delivery (Lu et al, 2005; Bratt and Gautun, 2018)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
