Dispositional factors and work mastery among shift workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Shift work presents unique challenges to employee well-being and job performance.
• Understanding factors influencing work mastery is crucial for supporting shift workers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between broad personality dimensions and dispositional resistance to change with work mastery in shift workers.
• To identify key personality predictors of perceived work mastery among individuals working non-standard hours.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 285 shift workers in Norway.
• Data collected via electronic questionnaires assessing personality traits and work mastery.
• Analysis focused on the predictive relationship between personality dimensions and work mastery.

Main Results:

• Neuroticism and conscientiousness, as broad personality dimensions, were significant predictors of perceived work mastery.
• The narrow trait of dispositional resistance to change did not show a significant association with work mastery in this sample.
• Findings highlight the differential impact of broad versus narrow personality traits on work mastery.

Conclusions:

• Broad personality dimensions, specifically neuroticism and conscientiousness, play a role in how shift workers perceive their mastery of work.
• Dispositional resistance to change appears less relevant to work mastery among shift workers compared to broader personality traits.
• Implications for workplace interventions aimed at enhancing work mastery in shift work settings.