Explaining job satisfaction among mental health peer support workers.

Abstract

Objective: Peer support practice has seen exponential growth during the past several decades. While there exists a body of research on job satisfaction among this emerging workforce, many studies had limited sample sizes and demographic diversity and focused on few facets of job satisfaction. The present study examines multiple factors associated with job satisfaction and compensates for limitations of previous smaller studies. Methods: A convenience/snowball sample of 645 peer support staff was recruited via National Association of Peer Supporters and Academy of Peer Services listservs. Eligible participants were at least 18 years of age, currently employed for a minimum of 6 months, and residing in one of the 50 states or one of U.S. territories. Global and multidimensional facets of job satisfaction were measured using the Indiana Job Satisfaction Survey. Results: Data from an anonymous online survey were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression. The main hypothesis was supported; coworker support, perceived organizational support, supervisor support, and job empowerment explained 71% of the variance in overall job satisfaction, Adj R2 = 0.71, F(9, 271) = 77.77, p < .01, with age and status as a certified peer specialist significant contributors. Perceived organizational support and job empowerment explained most variance in overall job satisfaction. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: As this workforce continues to burgeon, it is crucial to promote peer support values, role clarity, certification, diversity, and optimal organizational and empowerment resources to sustain a satisfied and effective peer support workforce.

Job Satisfaction, Mental Symptoms, and Well-Being in Adult Workers: A Gender Analysis

“…The main aim of the present study was to determine the relevance of job satisfaction for mental symptoms, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction for women and men. Although effect sizes were generally small, bivariate correlations indicated that higher job satisfaction was associated with greater life satisfaction, greater psychological well-being, greater self-esteem, greater social support, and fewer mental symptoms for both men and women, consistent with the literature [2,7,[18][19][20].…”

“…Regression analyses also showed that greater job satisfaction was associated with better mental health and well-being for both women and men, although its relevance depended on the type of mental health indicator used and on gender. Because previous research has shown that job satisfaction is associated with self-esteem and social support [2,18,20,56], to determine whether the effects of job satisfaction on mental symptoms, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction persisted beyond the effects of self-esteem and social support, both variables were included in the regression equation (in Model 3), whereas only job satisfaction was included in Model 2. Although the magnitude of the effect decreased considerably after self-esteem and social support were included in the regression, job satisfaction remained a statistically significant predictor in all regression analyses.…”

“…Although the term is widely used in the scientific research community as well as in day-to-day life, there is no general consensus on what constitutes job satisfaction [1,2]; it has been conceptualized as a cognitive evaluation, an emotional state, or both [3]. According to Locke [4], job satisfaction refers to a positive or pleasurable emotional state based on the appraisal of a person's professional experience at work, resulting from the perception that work fulfills or enables the fulfillment of important values that the person holds about work.…”

“…There are many antecedents of job satisfaction [8,10]. Although many of these antecedents are related to organizational variables, working conditions, and interpersonal relationships at work, in addition to the personal variables of employees [2,10], the relevance of sociodemographic variables, including age, education, marital status, or having children, has also been suggested [13,22,23], although there is no consensus on these findings. Another of the variables examined, which is central to the present study, is gender.…”