title: Future time perspective and promotion focus as determinants of intraindividual change in work motivation.
abstract: In the near future, workforces will increasingly consist of older workers. At the same time, research has demonstrated that work-related growth motives decrease with age. Although this finding is consistent with life span theories, such as the selection optimization and compensation (SOC) model, we know relatively little about the process variables that bring about this change in work motivation. Therefore, we use a 4-wave study design to examine the mediating role of future time perspective and promotion focus in the negative association between age and work-related growth motives. Consistent with the SOC model, we found that future time perspective was negatively associated with age, which, in turn, was associated with lower promotion focus, lower work-related growth motive strength, and lower motivation to continue working. These findings have important theoretical implications for the literature on aging and work motivation, and practical implications for how to motivate older workers.
authors: School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
authors: Dorien T A M
authors: DTAM
authors: Kooij
authors: School of Management, University of Bath.
authors: P Matthijs
authors: 0000-0002-6955-2837
authors: PM
authors: Bal
authors: School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Kanfer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002322:Career Mobility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult