title: Associations between dopamine and serotonin genes and job satisfaction: preliminary evidence from the Add Health Study.
abstract: Previous behavioral genetic studies have found that job satisfaction is partially heritable. We went a step further to examine particular genetic markers that may be associated with job satisfaction. Using an oversample from the National Adolescent Longitudinal Study (Add Health Study), we found 2 genetic markers, dopamine receptor gene DRD4 VNTR and serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR, to be weakly but significantly associated with job satisfaction. Furthermore, we found study participants' level of pay to mediate the DRD4 and job satisfaction relationship. However, we found no evidence that self-esteem mediated the relationships between these 2 genes and job satisfaction. The study represents an initial effort to introduce a molecular genetics approach to the fields of organizational psychology and organizational behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management and Organization, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore, Singapore. bizszl@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Zhaoli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wendong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Arvey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D009042:Motivation / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D012649:Self Concept; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4