The predictive value of job demands and resources on the meaning of work and organisational commitment across different age groups in the higher education sector

ABSTRACT

This study examines the predictive value of job demands and resources on the meaning of work and organisational commitment across three age groups; young workers (<30 years), a middle age group of workers (30–49 years) and older workers (>50 years). Data were collected from a survey conducted among university employees (N = 3066). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the relationship between the antecedent variables and the meaning of work and organisational commitment in the age groups separately. Age differences in the experience of these two variables were tested by one-way ANOVA. Both job demands and resources were related to the meaning of work and organisational commitment, however, the relative importance of demands and resources varied across the groups. Overall, older workers reported higher scores on the meaning of work and organisational commitment. The results suggest that different interventions should be considered when aiming to improve the meaning of work and commitment among different age groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Age differentiated work motivation
• higher education
• meaning of work
• organisational commitment
• psychosocial work environment

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the ARK Research Platform for the underlying Research materials for this article. The material can be assessed at https://hunt-db.medisin.ntnu.no/ark/#studyp369.