Differences of Four Work-Related Behavior and Experience Patterns in Work Ability and Other Work-Related Perceptions in a Finance Company

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The present study applies a salutogenetic approach to psycho-social stress and wellbeing at work and for the first time analyzes the relation of an extended model of four work-related behavior and experience patterns to work related perceptions, like work ability, job satisfaction and turnover intention, or engagement. Employees of an international financial services company (N = 182) completed the questionnaire Work-related behavior and experience pattern (Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltens- und Erlebensmuster; AVEM). The AVEM has oftentimes been used for research in helping professions, but research in non-helping professions is scarce. In addition to the AVEM, measures of job satisfaction, work ability, work engagement, presenteeism, and turnover intention were included in this study. Almost half (46.2%) of the sample showed a rather unambitious attitude towards work, followed by a burnout-related risk pattern (22.0%), a healthy pattern (19.8%), and a pattern at risk for overexertion (12.1%). Significantly more favorable scores were found for all work-related perceptions in participants with the healthy pattern compared to those with the burnout-related risk pattern, except for turnover intention where no significant differences were found. For work ability and vigor, those with a healthy pattern also had significantly higher scores than those with an unambitious pattern and a pattern at risk for overexertion. Being at risk for burnout not only affects job-related wellbeing and coping resources, but also work ability and work engagement. A need for personnel and organizational development and health promotion is indicated by a high number of individuals with reduced working motivation and risk patterns for overexertion or burnout.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1521
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume15
Issue number7
Number of pages20
ISSN1661-7827
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18.07.2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: Jan-Bennet Voltmer received a scholarship from the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (Foundation of the German Economy).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

    Research areas

  • Business psychology - behavior and experience patterns, Job Satisfaction, non-helping profession, preenteeism, work ability, work engagement

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