The impact of social class and work volition on decent work and life satisfaction among middle-aged and older re-employed individuals: application of the Psychology of Working Theory

This study aimed to identify the factors affecting decent work and life satisfaction among middle-aged and older re-employed individuals in their 50s or older, based on Psychology of Working Theory(PWT). Specifically, the research model hypothesized the direct impact of perceived social class on work volition, decent work, and life satisfaction and indirect link between these variables. Also, the research model tested whether proactive personality moderates the relations among social class, work volition, decent work, and life satisfaction. To do so, an online survey was conducted with 400 middle-aged and older re-employed individuals, and data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The analysis revealed that the perceived social class of re-employed individuals had an indirect significant effect on decent work through work volition. Additionally, work volition was found to have a significant direct effect on life satisfaction and an indirect effect through decent work. While the direct path from social class to life satisfaction was significant, the indirect paths through work volition and decent work were also significant. Finally, the moderation effect of proactive personality on the research model was examined. The proactive personality of re-employed individuals did not moderate the influence of social class and work volition on life satisfaction. But it was found that the direct impact of decent work on life satisfaction was significantly higher in the low proactive personality group. These results extend the applicability of PWT in Korean population, highlight the importance of social environmental context in perceptions of decent work and life satisfaction among re-employed individuals, and suggest potential intervention through work volition.