Does intrinsic work orientation have an influence on job satisfaction and work engagement?

What role does an intrinsic work orientation, conceptualized as personal resource, play in the relationship between job demands and resources on the one hand and job satisfaction an work engagement on the other? This has been studied in a large, representative sample of the Dutch working population (N = 4009). Based on assumptions of the Job Demands-Resources model both main and moderating effects of an intrinsic work orientation were expected. A main effect of an intrinsic work orientation was found for work engagement, but not for satisfaction. Furthermore an intrinsic work orientation boosted the positive effect of autonomy, learning opportunities and task complexity on engagement and job satisfaction, and buffered the relationship between workload and engagement. Explanations for these findings were elaborated. Finally work characteristics were the strongest predictors of engagement and job satisfaction