FEELING ECONOMICALLY DEPENDENT ON ONES JOB - ITS ORIGINS AND FUNCTIONS WITH REGARD TO WORKER WELL-BEING

The origins and functions of feeling economically dependent on one's j ob were examined among a sample of 168 hospital workers. As predicted, economic dependency was found to be greater the more dependents worke rs have, the less money they earn from their jobs, the less other inco me they have in their family units, the more they adhere to an instrum ental work orientation, and the less mobile they perceive themselves t o be. Also as predicted, it was found that economic dependency fully m ediated the relationship between 4 of the 5 antecedents (number of dep endents, other income, instrumental values, and perceived mobility) an d the subjective well-being of workers. Job-related income was observe d to have both direct and indirect effects. Further, the relationship between economic dependency and subjective well-being was negative. Th ese latter findings are discussed and implications drawn for the futur e use of the economic dependency construct.