Genetic influences on job satisfaction and work values

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 21 - 33
• Main Authors: Arvey, Richard D., McCall, Brian P., Bouchard, Thomas J., Taubman, Paul, Cavanaugh, Marcie A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic aspects; Job satisfaction; Motivation. Job satisfaction. Attitude; Occupational psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Twin studies; Work values; Human; Genetic inheritance; Dizygotic twin; Value; Male; Job satisfaction; Labour; Monozygotic twin
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/0191-8869(94)90258-5

Two replications of the Arvey, Bouchard, Segal and Abraham (1989; Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, 187–192) study were conducted investigating whether there is a significant genetic association with general job satisfaction as well as its facets. A sample of male monozygotic ( n = 95) and dizygotic ( n = 80) twin pairs reared together completed the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. As in Arvey et al. (1989), a significant genetic influence was demonstrated for Intrinsic Satisfaction with no support given for genetic influence on Extrinsic Satisfaction. Only modest support was given for a genetic influence on General Satisfaction. A second study using a sample of 1236 monozygotic and 1165 dizygotic twin pairs reared together showed a significant genetic influence on overall job satisfaction to replicate the Arvey et al. (1989) study as well as evidence for the genetic influence on work values to replicate the Keller Bouchard, Arvey, Segal and Dawis (1992) study.