Profiles of decent work: General trends and group differences.

Recent trends in the labor market-marked by instability and insecurity-have further ignited a discourse on the significance of decent work in people's lives. Scholars have mostly studied the multidimensional decent work construct using the composite scores of the Decent Work Scale (DWS; Duffy et al., 2017). However, there may be different combinations of decent work beyond the simple continuum of composite scores. Thus, we employed latent profile analysis to identify profiles of decent work using the 5 subscales of the DWS as indicators. As a result, 5 different groups with distinct profiles emerged: (a) average, (b) low health care, (c) indecent work, (d) only health care, and (e) decent work. Subsequent analyses comparing each group on demographics (gender, employment, education), theoretical predictors (economic constraints, marginalization, work volition), and theoretical outcomes (job satisfaction, life satisfaction) revealed notable differences across the 5 groups. Implications, limitations, and future directions of the results are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Women attaining decent work: The important role of workplace climate in Psychology of Working Theory.

Grounded in Psychology of Working Theory (PWT), the current study investigated predictors of decent work among a sample of employed women (N = 528). A structural equation model was examined finding that women's experiences of marginalization, work volition, and career adaptability all directly predicted the attainment of decent work, and economic constraints and marginalization experiences indirectly predicted decent work via work volition. Additionally, workplace climate for women employees was examined as both a predictor and moderator variable to explore best positioning of this additive construct. Workplace climate did not significantly moderate any model paths; however, it was a unique predictor of work volition and decent work, suggesting that this construct may be better positioned as a predictor variable in understanding the work experiences of women. These results highlight the importance of further investigating the role of workplace climate in PWT as well as the need for refining our understanding of how marginalized employees achieve decent work. Implications of the present study's results are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Testing a critical cultural wealth model of well-being among first-generation students.

The current study examined predictors of career choice and life satisfaction among a diverse sample of first-generation college students (N = 424). Grounded in the critical cultural wealth model (CCWM; Garriott, 2019), financial stress, sense of belonging, and work volition were found to directly predict life satisfaction and work volition was found to directly predict career choice satisfaction. Additionally, work volition and/or a sense of belonging were found to significantly mediate the relation of financial stress and experiences of discrimination to career choice and life satisfaction. Invariance testing revealed that the model fit equally well for students identifying as a racial/ethnic minority compared with White students, for freshman/sophomores compared with juniors/seniors, and for students who were part of a first-generation scholarship program versus those who were not. Overall, findings suggest that first-generation students' sense of career choice and life satisfaction is predicted primarily by feelings of work volition and belonging on campus, each of which may be negatively affected by experiencing higher levels of financial stress or discrimination on campus. Implications for research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A cross-cultural comparison of psychology of working theory among U.S. and Korean college students.

The cross-cultural validity of a modified version of psychology of working theory (PWT; Duffy, Blustein, Diemer, & Autin, 2016) was tested in samples of United States (n = 346) and Korean (n = 319) undergraduates. Participants completed measures of economic resources, work volition, career adaptability, occupational engagement, and future decent work perceptions. The results illustrated measurement invariance between the two samples. Thus, the hypothesized models were tested separately in the two samples and the results were compared regarding parameter significance, direction, and magnitude. Overall, the modified model generally fit well with both samples. However, there were notable cross-cultural differences: economic resources significantly predicted work volition, occupational engagement, and future decent work perceptions only in the United States sample and the future decent work perceptions and occupational engagement were negatively associated in the Korean sample. Explanations about the cross-cultural differences and invariances were provided and practical and research implications were discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Application of the psychology of working theory with Korean emerging adults.

Psychology of Working Theory (PWT; Duffy, Blustein, Diemer, & Autin, 2016) is a recently developed framework aimed at documenting predictors and outcomes of decent work. To date, no studies have explored the applicability of the psychology of working perspective with emerging adults. The goal of the present study is to examine the predictor portion of PWT with a sample of Korean emerging adults from diverse economic backgrounds. Data were collected from a sample of 407 emerging adults attending a large junior college in Korea. Overall, most of the hypothesized direct paths were significant, with economic resources positively relating to both work volition and career adaptability and these positively relating to occupational engagement and future perceptions of securing decent work. Support for the hypothesized indirect effects was mixed. Overall, results suggest that the PWT is generally relevant and applicable to emerging adults when population-appropriate outcomes are included in the model and that the theory is supported in the Korean context. Based on the results, we also propose that interventions based on malleable psychological factors-the mediators in our study-may be targets when working with emerging adults experiencing economic constraints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

An initial examination of the work as calling theory.

Over the past decade, research on work as a calling has seen a rapid growth, with hundreds of empirical articles on the topic having been published. Until recently, however, there has been no comprehensive theoretical model of work as a calling to guide research. Duffy, Dik, Douglass, England, and Velez (2018) published the Work as Calling Theory (WCT), which provides a comprehensive model of the predictors and outcomes of living out a calling. The present study provides the first empirical examination of the 20 propositions outlined within the predictor portion of this model. Using data collected from a sample of 424 employed adults living in the United States, from diverse social class backgrounds and occupations, we conducted latent variable structural equation modeling to evaluate the model propositions. Overall, we found full (17) and partial (1) support for 18 of the 20 model propositions, which included direct effects along with mediating and moderating effects. Person-environment fit, career commitment, and work meaning appear to be critical in helping to translate a perceived calling and access to opportunity into a lived calling. Additionally, calling motivation, organizational support, and job crafting may play a key role in helping employees with a calling experience more fit with their work environments. Taking these findings into consideration, we explore practical implications for career counselors and employers and highlight future directions for scholars using the WCT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).