Relative Importance of Work Need Satisfaction Among Working Adults in the United States and South Korea: A Cross-Cultural Study

Abstract

According to the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT), work need satisfaction is a key predictor of positive outcomes, such as well-being and work fulfillment. However, important cultural differences may exist regarding the relative importance of different types of needs in predicting well-being and work fulfillment. To address this idea, we collected data from workers in the U.S. and Korea and conducted a relative weight analysis with employed adults, comparing how well specific needs predicted the four proposed PWT outcomes. For American workers (n = 281), the five need constructs were more predictive of work and well-being outcomes than for Korean workers (n = 327). The most notable differences were prediction of work meaning and physical health, with social contribution and relatedness need satisfaction being much more predictive of these outcomes in the U.S. than Korean sample, respectively. Overall, the findings suggest that work need satisfaction may promote workers’ well-being in both countries; however, these relationships may differ somewhat depending on the culture. Practical implications and future research directions based on these findings are discussed.