Taking the chance: Core self-evaluations predict relative gain in job resources following turnover

Achim Elfering; Anita C Keller; Martial Berset; Laurenz L Meier; Simone Grebner; Wolfgang Kälin; Françoise Monnerat; Franziska Tschan; Norbert K Semmer

doi:10.1186/s40064-016-3365-0

Taking the chance: Core self-evaluations predict relative gain in job resources following turnover

Springerplus. 2016 Oct 3;5(1):1702. doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-3365-0. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Achim Elfering¹, Anita C Keller², Martial Berset³, Laurenz L Meier⁴, Simone Grebner², Wolfgang Kälin², Françoise Monnerat², Franziska Tschan⁵, Norbert K Semmer¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland ; National Centre of Competence in Research, Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, CISA, Geneva, Switzerland.
² Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland ; FHNW School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, Basel, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland ; Department of Psychology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
⁵ National Centre of Competence in Research, Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, CISA, Geneva, Switzerland ; Groupe de Psychologie Appliqué, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Abstract

Core self-evaluations (CSE) might account for relative gains in job resources across time, especially in situations when these individual differences affect behavior that is relevant for development of job resources. This longitudinal study tests CSE as an individual resource that predicts relative gain in job resources and job satisfaction among job beginners who change or stay with their employer. A questionnaire was filled in by 513 adolescents shortly before the end of vocational training and one year later. Our results replicate previous findings suggesting that job satisfaction is affected by CSE directly and indirectly through the perception of job resources. Multi-group structural equation analysis showed that only leavers had a longitudinal indirect effect of CSE on job satisfaction at the end of vocational training via job resources during their first year of employment. Our findings imply that turnover includes opportunities to optimize one's circumstances and that CSE helps to attain resourceful jobs.

Keywords: Core self-evaluations; Job resources; Job satisfaction; Turnover.