The Relationship Between Job Security and Work Attitudes: A Meta-Analysis Examining Competing Theoretical Models

Abstract

Competing theoretical models and conflicting findings leave unanswered questions regarding job security’s effect on employee work attitudes (i.e., job satisfaction and organizational commitment). The present meta-analysis of 47 studies (including 56 independent samples) aims to clarify this association and identify factors that may explain differences between studies. We found a linearly positive relationship between job security and work attitudes such that more job security increased employee’s job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Moderator analyses confirmed that relationships differ substantially depending on type of organization, origin of country, age, tenure, and percentage of female workers in the organization. Interestingly, we found that age and tenure moderated the curvilinear job security-work attitudes relationships such that younger (or short tenured) employee group and older (or long tenured) employee group weaken work attitudes, while moderate levels of age (or tenured) employee group yield the strongest effects on work attitudes. Implications for future research and implications for organizational practice in the public sector are discussed.