title: Self-esteem and subjective responses to work among mature workers: similarities and differences by gender.
abstract: This study addressed three questions that underlie the experiences of middle-aged working individuals: (1) What factors influence workers' quality of time spent at work, their feelings of competence as a worker, and their satisfaction with work? (2) What is the impact of subjective responses to work on self-esteem? and (3) What effect does gender have on subjective responses and self-esteem? These data are derived from an ongoing study of full-time working men and women (N = 770). Subjective responses to work are affected by poor health. Quality of time at work (meaningful, not boring), job satisfaction, and an identity as a competent worker are associated with self-esteem. Self-esteem was higher among women in highly autonomous jobs, and nonmarried women had higher self-esteem than others. The strongest effect on self-esteem was that of feeling competent as a worker. Positive perceptions of work increased self-esteem, facilitating the transition into retirement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. betty_mutran@unc.edu
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mutran
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Reitzes
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bratton
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*