Abstract
The link between job satisfaction and life satisfaction has been extensively explored in the relevant literature. However, the great majority of past research has been carried out using cross-sectional analyses, and almost exclusively in the Western world. Moreover, the underlying psychological mechanisms explaining the link are not yet completely understood. Thus, we report the first research to date which uses both cross-sectional and longitudinal data among workers in Chile—a fast-developing Latin American economy—and which aims to tackle previous limitations. Three studies consistently support a positive link between the constructs. Study 1 (N = 636) found that higher job satisfaction predicted higher life satisfaction both contemporaneously and longitudinally, and vice versa, above and beyond several key control variables. Study 2 (N = 725) and Study 3 (N = 703) replicated Study 1 results, but tested for the first time the role of satisfaction of basic psychological needs (as stated by self-determination theory) in the job–life satisfaction link. This is the most novel contribution of our paper. Key implications not only for individual quality of life, but also for companies' human resource practices emerge from our findings.
Highlights
How related are job satisfaction and life satisfaction? This question has been extensively explored in the literature (Heller et al, 2002)
We found that need satisfaction was positively associated with both life satisfaction, β = 0.40, p < 0.001, and job satisfaction, β = 0.64, p < 0.001
We found that need satisfaction was positively associated with both life satisfaction, β = 0.42, p < 0.001, and job satisfaction, β = 0.74, p < 0.001 (Supplementary Figure 2)
Summary
How related are job satisfaction and life satisfaction? This question has been extensively explored in the literature (Heller et al, 2002). The spillover hypothesis (Bowling et al, 2010) is the most supported hypothesis to date. It argues that “job experiences spill over onto other spheres of life, and vice versa, suggesting that a positive relationship exists between the two variables” Previous research has reported results mainly from the Western world (Rain et al, 1991; Heller et al, 2002; Diener and Tay, 2012). The underlying psychological mechanisms explaining the hypothesis are still not completely understood
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