The antecedents of job satisfaction among academic staff

M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)The study examines the antecedents of job satisfaction, focusing on the influence of co-worker relations (work role fit, co-worker support, supervisor support, norm adherence and self- consciousness), and psychological safety. The primary research objective was to examine the levels of job satisfaction experienced by academics. Respondents from a higher education institution were asked to complete an online survey containing, the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire and an extract from the Workplace Characteristics Questionnaire compiled by May, Harter, & Gilson (2004). The results report relatively high levels of job satisfaction for both intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction. Significant differences in perceived job satisfaction were obtained for age, qualification type and staff classification. Psychological safety and co-worker relations reported a predictive relationship with job satisfaction (intrinsic and extrinsic). Work role fit, co-worker support and supervisor support were positively associated with psychological safety; adherence to co-worker norms and self-consciousness were negatively associated. The mediation analysis revealed that psychological safety mediates the relationship between co-worker relations and job satisfaction. Psychological safety mediates the influence of co-worker relations’ variables (co-worker support and self-consciousness) and intrinsic job satisfaction fully. Work role fit had a strong effect on both intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction. Psychological safety partially mediated the relationship for both co-worker support and supervisor support, and extrinsic job satisfaction