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On the relationships among work characteristics and learning-related behavior: Does age matter? |
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| Authors: | Annet H de Lange Toon W Taris Paul Jansen Michiel A J Kompier Irene L D Houtman Paulien M Bongers |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands;2. Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Radboud University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;3. Department of Management and Organisation, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;4. Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Radboud University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;5. TNO Work and Employment, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands;6. TNO Work and Employment, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands Body@Work, Research Center on Physical Activity, Work and Health TNO-VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | This 3-wave longitudinal study examined (a) the causal direction of the relationships among psychosocial work characteristics (e.g., job demands, job control, and supervisor support) and indicators of learning-related behavior (e.g., motivation to learn and active problem solving), and (b) whether these relationships differed across age, by comparing the results for young (≤30), middle-aged (31–44) and older (≥45) workers. The results for the total sample revealed significant reciprocal causal relationships among job demands, job control, and learning-related behavior. Furthermore, significant age differences were found in the level of the work characteristics and learning-related behavior, as well as in the cross-lagged relationships among the variables. Compared to earlier—predominantly cross-sectional—results, the present study underlines the importance of taking a dynamic as well as a life-span view on the relationships between work and learning-related behavior. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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