Hur påverkas arbetstillfredsställelse av möjligheten att hjälpa andra?

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to examine if, and how, the ability to help others in one’s job affects job satisfaction in Sweden. Previous research has suggested numerous factors that affect job satisfaction, e.g., job security, income, interesting work and career opportunities. By including these factors, as well as factors identified by Herzberg’s (1993) two-factor theory of work motivation, the ability of helping others is tested as a potential motivational factor of job satisfaction. Utilizing data from the International Social Survey (ISSP) 2015 – ”Work Orientations”, a hierarchical regression is performed to analyse the relationship. The findings suggest that the ability to help others is significantly affecting job satisfaction, even when including control variables. Additionally, the results indicate that this relationship is mediated by how proud individuals are of their work. The conclusion of this study is therefore that both the ability of helping others and feeling proud in relation to one’s job might serve as potentially important, yet seldomly recognized, motivational factors to promote job satisfaction.