Work locus of control and dispositional optimism as antecedents to job insecurity

Abstract

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, work locus of control and dispositional optimism of employees working in two financial institutions (N = 605). Results showed a practically significant relationship between job insecurity and work locus of control, implying that external locus of control was associated with higher levels of job insecurity. It was furthermore found that increased levels of dispositional optimism were associated with decreased levels of job insecurity. Both work locus of control and dispositional optimism held predictive value with regard to job insecurity whilst controlling for the impact of demographic variables. Opsomming Die hoofdoelwit met hierdie studie was om die verhouding tussen werksonsekerheid, werk lokus van beheer en disposisionele optimisme te ondersoek van werknemers werksaam binne twee finansiële instellings (N = 605). ’n Dwarssneeopname-ontwerp is gebruik. Die resultate het aangetoon dat daar ’n prakties betekenisvolle verband bestaan tussen werk lokus van beheer en werksonsekerheid, wat beteken dat eksterne lokus van beheer geassosieer was met verhoogde vlakke van werksonsekerheid. Dit was verdermeer bevind dat verhoogde vlakke van disposisionele optimisme geassosieer was met laer vlakke van werksonsekerheid. Beide werk lokus van beheer and disposisionele optimisme het voorspellingswaarde met betrekking tot werksonsekerheid gehad terwyl die impak van demografiese veranderlikes gekontroleer is.

Keywords

• Dispositional optimism
• Job insecurity
• Locus of control