How people feel about their job: effects of regulatory mode on positivity and job satisfaction ( ¿Cómo se sienten las personas sobre su trabajo?: los efectos del modo regulatorio en la positividad y la satisfacción laboral )

Abstract

The main goal of the present study was to analyse the effects of regulatory modes (i.e., assessment and locomotion) on both positivity and job satisfaction. Furthermore, we explored the mediating role of positivity in the relationship between regulatory modes and job satisfaction. In order to test our hypotheses, we recruited employees (N = 563) from 8 Italian organizations, and obtained their individual (a) scores on the Regulatory Mode Scale, (b) ratings of positivity, and (c) overall job satisfaction. Two separate moderated multiple regression analyses were run to test the main effect and the interactions of the regulatory modes on the two outcome measures. In line with our hypotheses, the results revealed that assessment negatively predicted both positivity and job satisfaction, whereas locomotion positively predicted those variables. Furthermore, the results showed that employees showing a specific self-regulation pattern (i.e., the combination of high assessment and low locomotion) experienced lower positivity and lower job satisfaction. Finally, using a mediated moderation analysis, it was found that the relationship between regulatory modes and job satisfaction was significantly mediated by positivity.