Validating the Job Satisfaction Survey in voluntary child welfare

Abstract

Job satisfaction has been linked to workforce retention in child welfare agencies. One of the most widely used measures on job satisfaction is the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS). Although it was validated among workers of public social service agencies, its psychometric properties remain untested in workers of voluntary (private, nonprofit) child welfare agencies. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this study aims to examine the reliability and validity of the JSS in frontline child welfare workers in voluntary agencies. The sample was randomly split into two subsamples for factor analyses. Based on Sample 1 (N=343), the EFA yields a six-factor structure with 23 items: 1) pay, 2) supervision, 3) promotion, 4) benefits, 5) communication, and 6) nature of work. Using Sample 2 (N=358), the CFA confirms that the six-factor model fits the data well. Except for the communication subscale, the other five subscales have good internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The five subscales also have good criterion validity in that they are strongly correlated with both intent to stay in child welfare and intent to leave the current agency. These findings suggest a short-form version of the JSS (JSS-SF) with 19 items loading on five subscales, which can be used to measure job satisfaction among voluntary child welfare workers. Directions for future research and implications for voluntary child welfare agencies are discussed.