Evaluation of job satisfaction in a sample of Spanish social workers through the ‘Job Satisfaction Survey’ scale

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to determine the level of job satisfaction experienced by social workers and to establish whether there are significant differences between the various levels of job satisfaction and a series of personal features and job characteristics. The participants were 947 social workers (861 women and 86 men) belonging to 35 of the 36 Professional Associations existing in Spain. The measurement tool used is the Job Satisfaction Survey scale, designed by Spector [2002. Psicología Industrial y Organizacional: Investigación y Práctica [Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice]. México: Manual Moderno]. The results show that the social workers surveyed experience moderate levels of job satisfaction (M = 115.8; SD = 21.4). The intrinsic factor that seems to have the greatest positive influence on job satisfaction is the nature of the job, while the extrinsic factors of pay, fringe benefits, and operating conditions are the ones that contribute most to job dissatisfaction, and social workers have no control over any of them.

RESUMEN

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el nivel de satisfacción laboral experimentado por los trabajadores sociales y examinar si hay diferencias significativas entre los diferentes niveles de satisfacción laboral y una serie de características personales y del puesto de trabajo. Los participantes fueron 947 trabajadores sociales, pertenecientes a 35 de los 36 Colegios Profesionales existentes en España (861 mujeres y 86 hombres). El instrumento de medida utilizado fue la escala Job Satisfaction Survay (JSS) diseñada por Spector (1997). Los resultados mostraron que los trabajadores sociales encuestados experimentan niveles moderados de satisfacción en el trabajo (M = 115,8; DT = 21,4). El factor intrínseco que mayor influencia positiva tiene sobre la satisfacción laboral sería la naturaleza del trabajo, mientras que los factores extrínsecos remuneración, beneficios y condiciones de trabajo son quienes más contribuyen a la insatisfacción laboral. Los factores que más contribuyen a la insatisfacción laboral son factores sobre los que los trabajadores sociales no tienen control.

KEYWORDS:

• Job satisfaction
• social workers
• Two-Factor Theory
• Job Satisfaction Survey

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• Satisfacción laboral
• trabajadores sociales
• teoría bifactorial
• Job Satisfaction Survey

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to all the professionals who have participated in this research, without whom it would not have been possible to carry out this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Rogelio Gómez García is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the Universidad de Valladolid. He performs docent and management tasks in the Department of Social Work of said University. His main research areas are the professionalisation of social workers and poverty and social exclusion. He is the winner of the national research award ‘Ana Díaz Perdiguero’ of the 2007–2008 convocation.

Margarita Alonso Sangregorio, diplomate in Social Work, with a degree in Work Sciences and Doctor of Corporate Social Responsibility of nonprofit organizations (NGO) from the Universidad de León. Tenured professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Services of the University School of Social Work at the Universidad de León, with 34 years of teaching experience. She performs docent and management tasks in the Department of Social Work of said University.

María Lucía Llamazares Sánchez, diplomate in Social Work, with a degree in Work Sciences and Postgraduate Diploma from the Universidad de León. Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Services of the University School of Social Work at the Universidad de León, with 26 years of teaching experience. She is a technician of the Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Associations of Castile and León with the functions of planning, coordination, and management.

Notes

1 General or Basic Social Services: are directed at the entire population. Specialized Social Services: are directed at specific groups of the population (the elderly, children, youth, drug addicts, the homeless, etc.).

2 One of the underlying assumptions of Rasch’s Model is its one-dimensional nature. In the analysis of Rasch’s models, the lack of a one-dimensional nature is reflected in in some poorly-adjusted indexes. Two adjustment indexes are generally used: the INFIT MNSQ and the OUTFIT MNSQ, each with a range from 0 to +∞.

The ideal value for both is 1, which suggests that the observed variance is equivalent to the expected variance. INFIT or OUTFIT values of 1 + x indicate (100*x) % more variance between the observed and predicted patterns by the model than what was expected if the data and the model were perfectly adjusted. For example, an INFIT MNSQ of 1.3 indicates that we have 30% more variation in the data observed than that predicted by the model. When the value is less than 1.0, there is less variation in the observed data than in the model (i.e. over adjustment). An item with a large adjustment statistic generally indicates that it does not pertain to the unique construct that is being measured. While the INFIT is affected by unexpected patterns of response of the subjects located close to the position of the item in the scale, the OUTFIT is more sensitive to unexpected patterns of response of the subjects located far from the location of the item.