A two-study examination of age discrimination, work meaningfulness, and bridge employment intentions
Career Development International
ISSN: 1362-0436
Article publication date: 10 May 2022
Issue publication date: 24 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the role theory, this study examines whether workplace age discrimination indirectly relates to older workers' bridge employment intentions through work meaningfulness.
Design/methodology/approach
Study 1 used two-wave time-lagged survey data from one hundred and seventy nurses (≥45 years old) from the Midwestern United States. Study 2 used three-wave time-lagged survey data from one hundred and eighty-six employees from a wide range of occupations in the United States. The online survey contains various self-reports on workplace age discrimination, work meaningfulness, affective commitment, and bridge employment intentions.
Findings
Results in Study 1 found that workplace age discrimination was negatively and indirectly related to older nurses' bridge employment intentions through their experiences of work meaningfulness. Results in Study 2 further confirmed the mediating role of work meaningfulness in the relationship between age discrimination and bridge employment intentions, above and beyond the role of affective commitment.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the research by testing the indirect relationship between workplace age discrimination and older workers' bridge employment intentions through work meaningfulness, further raising our awareness of the importance of social and interpersonal experiences in older workers' preretirement jobs to their late-career development.
Keywords
Citation
Peng, Y. (2022), "A two-study examination of age discrimination, work meaningfulness, and bridge employment intentions", Career Development International, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 391-407. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-11-2021-0295
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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