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Everyday discrimination in the workplace, job satisfaction and psychological wellbeing: age differences and moderating variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2012

PHILIP TAYLOR ,
CHRISTOPHER MCLOUGHLIN ,
DENNY MEYER  and
ELIZABETH BROOKE
PHILIP TAYLOR
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia.
CHRISTOPHER MCLOUGHLIN*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia.
DENNY MEYER
Affiliation:
The Brain and Psychological Sciences Centre, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
ELIZABETH BROOKE
Affiliation:
Business, Work and Ageing Centre for Research, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
*
Address for correspondence: Christopher McLoughlin, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University, Northways Road, Churchill, Victoria 3842, Australia E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

In this article we explore the importance of ‘everyday discrimination’ and other psycho-social variables for psychological wellbeing, considering differences according to age, gender and socio-economic position. Using employee survey data collected within Australian organisations we explore a statistically reliable model of the relationship between aspects of the psycho-social work environment, psychological wellbeing and job satisfaction. The employee survey was carried out in two phases during mid-2007 and mid-2008 in a national university, two international freight terminals of a large international airline, a national manufacturing company and the roadside assistance division of a motoring organisation. Structural Equation Modelling was used to configure a model including psycho-social factors: respect, support, training, job insecurity and personally meaningful work. Everyday discrimination and consultation with supervisor were considered in terms of their direct effect on psychological wellbeing and job satisfaction and their indirect effect via the psycho-social factors enumerated above. Importantly, this generalised model attempts to describe the interrelations of these factors effectively for various age groups, gender and socio-economic position. We identify age, gender and socio-economic differences in the strength and relative importance of these relationships. A further validation study with an independent sample will be required to verify the model proposed in this article. The implications for the design of workplace interventions concerned with age discrimination are discussed.

Keywords

employmentage discriminationpsychological wellbeingjob satisfaction
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 33 , Issue 7 , October 2013 , pp. 1105 - 1138
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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