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Personality, Job Satisfaction and Health - The Mediating Influence of Affectivity

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  • Justina A. V. Fischer
  • Alfonso Sousa-Poza

Abstract

This paper evaluates the relationship between job satisfaction and subjective and objective measures of health of workers over 50 using the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) and cross-sectional data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Methodologically, we address problems of (a) crosssectional causality and (b) absence of objective measures of physical health and intellectual ability. We find a positive link between job satisfaction and various self-report health measures and intellectual ability, but not for physical health. Further analysis with the SHP indicates that job satisfaction serves as transmission channel of working conditions, prior health state and affective mental state for most self-report measures, while for specific health problems such as depressive states and problems with the back a direct beneficial effect of job satisfaction remains.

Suggested Citation

  • Justina A. V. Fischer & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2008. "Personality, Job Satisfaction and Health - The Mediating Influence of Affectivity," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 144(III), pages 379-435, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ses:arsjes:2008-iii-6
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    1. Justina A. V. Fischer & Alfonso Sousa‐Poza, 2009. "Does job satisfaction improve the health of workers? New evidence using panel data and objective measures of health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(1), pages 71-89, January.
    2. Zazdravnykh, Evgeniy & Rodionova, Tatiana & Taraskina, Elena & Garipova, Farida, 2023. "The effects of occupational hazards and health-related behavior on workers’ health: A multivariate probit approach," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 71, pages 76-98.
    3. Bussière, Clémence & Sirven, Nicolas & Tessier, Philippe, 2021. "Does ageing alter the contribution of health to subjective well-being?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    4. Fischer, Justina AV, 2009. "Subjective Well-Being as Welfare Measure: Concepts and Methodology," MPRA Paper 16619, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Fischer, Justina AV & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2010. "The impact of institutions on firms’ rejuvenation policies: Early retirement with severance pay versus simple lay-off. A Cross-European Analysis," MPRA Paper 20343, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job satisfaction; health; SHARE; affectivity; work conditions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy

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