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Overqualification and Subjective Well-Being at Work: The Moderating Role of Job Autonomy and Culture

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  • Chia-Huei Wu
  • Aleksandra Luksyte
  • Sharon Parker

Abstract

Overqualification is a form of underemployment wherein people have more skills, experience, knowledge, and abilities than required for a job. Past research has shown that overqualification is negatively related to subjective well-being at work, such as lower job satisfaction. To mitigate this negative impact, drawing on a job design perspective, the authors proposed that job autonomy can buffer overqualification’s negative effects. Based on the model of culture fit in managerial practice, as well as regulatory fit theory, the authors further proposed that the buffering effects of job autonomy apply only to employees from individualistic (vs. collectivistic) cultures. Data from the 5th European Working Conditions Survey were analyzed. Results of a two-level multilevel modeling analysis showed a three way interaction between overqualification, job autonomy, and national culture in predicting subjective well-being at work. Job autonomy buffered the negative effects of overqualification on subjective well-being at work, but only in individualistic cultures. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Chia-Huei Wu & Aleksandra Luksyte & Sharon Parker, 2015. "Overqualification and Subjective Well-Being at Work: The Moderating Role of Job Autonomy and Culture," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 917-937, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:121:y:2015:i:3:p:917-937
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-014-0662-2
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    1. Yarid Ayala & José Ma. Peiró Silla & Núria Tordera & Laura Lorente & Jesús Yeves, 2017. "Job Satisfaction and Innovative Performance in Young Spanish Employees: Testing New Patterns in the Happy-Productive Worker Thesis—A Discriminant Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 1377-1401, October.
    2. Mohammed Alzubaidi, 2020. "The impact of overeducation on job outcomes: Evidence from Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 9(4), pages 104-120, July.
    3. Bao Cheng & Xing Zhou & Gongxing Guo & Kezhen Yang, 2020. "Perceived Overqualification and Cyberloafing: A Moderated-Mediation Model Based on Equity Theory," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 565-577, July.
    4. Ma, Chao & Lin, Xiaoshuang & Chen, (George) Zhen Xiong & Wei, Wu, 2020. "Linking perceived overqualification with task performance and proactivity? An examination from self-concept-based perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 199-209.
    5. Xiaohang Zhao & Yang Feng & Lei Jin & Skylar Biyang Sun, 2024. "Unraveling the Nexus between Overeducation and Depressive Symptoms in China: The Roles of Perceived Fairness of Earnings and Job Autonomy," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 1877-1902, August.
    6. Samuel Sixpence & Leonard Muzanenhamo & Wilfred Ukpere, 2022. "Linkage between rewards and workspace morale in a hyperinflationary environment," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(10), pages 63-77, December.
    7. Deng, Hong & Guan, Yanjun & Wu, Chia-Huei & Erdogan, Berrin & Bauer, Talya & Yao, Xiang, 2018. "A relational model of perceived overqualification: the moderating role of interpersonal influence on social acceptance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 67547, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Yi-Jung Wu & Xiaojie Xu & Jingying He, 2021. "Gender, Educational Attainment, and Job Quality in Germany, Sweden, and the UK: Evidence from the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-16, November.
    9. Ruubel, Raul, 2018. "Time dimensions of job autonomy in R&D work," SocArXiv n62qd, Center for Open Science.
    10. Ethel N Abe & Isaac I Abe & Ziska Fields & Ganiyu O Idris, 2018. "Work-Family Stressors and Work-Family Satisfaction: Effect of Sense of Coherence at a Metropolitan Municipality," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(2), pages 74-88.
    11. Dominik Buttler, 2022. "Employment Status and Well-Being Among Young Individuals. Why Do We Observe Cross-Country Differences?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 409-437, November.
    12. Zhanxue Gong & Fang Sun & Xiyuan Li, 2021. "Perceived Overqualification, Emotional Exhaustion, and Creativity: A Moderated-Mediation Model Based on Effort–Reward Imbalance Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Osama Khassawneh & Tamara Mohammad & Munther Talal Momany, 2022. "Perceived Overqualification and Job Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Manager Envy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Qiufeng Huang & Kaili Zhang & Ali Ahmad Bodla & Yanqun Wang, 2022. "The Influence of Perceived Red Tape on Public Employees’ Procrastination: The Conservation of Resource Theory Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, April.
    15. Merce Mach & Aristides I Ferreira & Luis F Martinez & Antonina Lisowskaia & Grace K Dagher & Amalia R Perez-Nebra, 2018. "Working conditions in hospitals revisited: A moderated-mediated model of job context and presenteeism," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
    16. Wu, Chia-Huei & Tian, Amy & Luksyte, Aleksandra & Spitzmueller, Christiane, 2017. "On the association between perceived overqualification and adaptive behavior," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 66320, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    17. Yujue Peng & Huimin Wu & Cheng Guo, 2022. "The Relationship between Teacher Autonomy and Mental Health in Primary and Secondary School Teachers: The Chain-Mediating Role of Teaching Efficacy and Job Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-9, November.

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