The age and job satisfaction relationship: does its shape and strength still evade us?

Abstract

Many investigations have examined the relationship between age and job satisfaction. However, various types of relationships have been reported across studies: positive linear, negative linear, U-shaped, inverted U-shaped or inverted J-shaped, or no significant relations. Such conflicting results have left the true nature of the relationship unresolved. The present study used a large national probability sample of workers (N = 1,095) to investigate the shape and strength of the age--job satisfaction relationship. Results indicated a significant but weak positive linear age--job satisfaction relationship. That is, age failed to explain a substantial proportion of linear variance in our job satisfaction measure. This indicates that age, as a chronological variable, is not a viable predictor of job satisfaction. Future research attempting to explain age differences in job satisfaction should instead focus its attention on other more pertinent psychological variables associated with the underlying aging process.