Attachment to work, job satisfaction and work centrality
Leadership & Organization Development Journal
ISSN: 0143-7739
Article publication date: 29 July 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the associations between attachment styles, work centrality and job satisfaction with turnover intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-report questionnaire that included psychometrically sound measures of the key constructs was completed by a sample of 125 employees. A structural equation model was conducted to test the proposed relations and mediating hypotheses.
Findings
Attachment styles were found to be linked directly to turnover intentions, and not mediated by job satisfaction and work centrality, as predicted. Avoidant and anxious employees showed higher levels of turnover intentions. A positive relationship was found between work centrality and job satisfaction; job satisfaction was negatively related with turnover intentions.
Research limitations/implications
Although the study involved cross-sectional self-report data, it shed light on the associations between attachment theory and the costly organizational phenomena of voluntary turnover.
Practical implications
Managers should pay particular attention to employees characterized by an insecure attachment style. Efforts should be made to improve work centrality and job satisfaction among employees.
Originality/value
The study adds attachment styles as an additional tool available to managers in their efforts to manage turnover.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to express the gratitude to Gidi Rubinstein for his input on this paper.
Citation
Tziner, A., Ben-David, A., Oren, L. and Sharoni, G. (2014), "Attachment to work, job satisfaction and work centrality", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 555-565. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-08-2012-0102
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited