Exploratory empirical tests of work-based identity antecedents and consequences

Abstract

This chapter has an exploratory focus and consists of three sections. The first section briefly recaps on the conceptualisation (as explained in Chap. 2) and then proceeds with reporting on the operationalisation of the WI construct based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The obtained WI scale was then used in the other exploratory analyses reported on in the two remaining sections of this chapter. The second section mainly reports on the De Braine (2012) study where the traditional job demands-resources (JD-R) model as well as other selected job resources (JRs) and job demands (JDs) outside this model were used to predict WI. It was found that the following JRs - growth opportunities, perceived external prestige, organisational support, team climate, advancement and one JD - overload predicted WI. It was also tested whether the relationship between JRs and WI was mediated by JDs. It was found not to be the case. Furthermore, it was also tested if biographical and demographical variables moderate the prediction model. Biographical variables race and gender as well as demographical variables such as marital status, job level, membership of a medical fund and geographical region were found to be moderators of the prediction model. The third section mainly reports on the Bothma (2011) study where subjective consequences (personal alienation, helping behaviours, burnout and work engagement) and objectives consequences (task behaviour and turnover intentions) of WI were investigated. All the consequences were significantly related to WI. It was also tested whether the relationship between WI and objective consequences are mediated by subjective consequences. In this case it was found that personal alienation, helping behaviour, dimensions of burnout and work engagement were all significant mediators of either the WI, turnover intention, or the WI, task performance relationships. The prediction models of the objective consequences were also tested for moderation effects by biographical and demographical variables. Only education level moderated the prediction of task performance.