Two Requirements for Job Contentment: Autonomy and Social Integration

Abstract

The interaction of autonomy (control over work activities) and social integration (relationships with co-workers) was investigated in a sample of newly employed nurses in the 6th and 12th month of work. Those nurses with low autonomy and low social integration reported low job satisfaction and work motivation, poor commitment to the organization and less intent to stay on the job. They were older, with more experience and more education and tended to work on medical units. This study supports the notion of feminist psychologists that what women nurses want is "autonomy with connectedness".