S u m m a r y

Mauno S & Kinnunen U (1998)

Job insecurity and self-esteem

Psykologia 33(3):186-195. Helsinki ISSN 0355-1067.

 

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of job insecurity and the relationship between job insecurity and self-esteem by using longitudinal data gathered in Finland. The study was carried out by means of questionnaires, which were answered twice, in 1995 (n=636) and 1996 (n=518), by employees in four organizations: a factory, a bank, a supermarket and the municipal social and health care sector. The answers of those employees who participated in the study in both 1995 and 1996 (n=276) form the main basis for the results. The results indicated that perceived job insecurity was quite common in both years, although it decreased slightly from 1995 to 1996. This decreasing trend was seen among employees in the municipal social and health care sector, in particular. Insecurity was most prevalent among female employees in the banking sector, where its prevalence increased during the follow-up period. Job insecurity turned out to be a quite permanent phenomenon: insecurity in 1996 was significantly predicted by insecurity experienced one year earlier. Job insecurity was associated with self-esteem only for men: job insecurity in 1995 was linked to reduced self-esteem, which in turn increased job insecurity one year later.

 

Key words:

Job insecurity, self-esteem, longitudinal study, organizational changes.

 

Saija Mauno, M.A. (psych.) and Ulla Kinnunen, Ph.D. (psych.), Family Research Unit, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, FIN-40351 Jyväskylä, Finland.