Older workers' successful aging and intention to stay

Abstract

Purpose

Based on organizational support theory, the aim of this paper is to examine the associations among perceived organizational support, successful aging in the workplace, job satisfaction, and the intentions to stay in organization among older workers.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 242 employees, aged over 45 years, were recruited to participate in a study from May to September 2009.

Findings

Correlation showed that perceived organizational support and all five dimensions of successful aging in the workplace, (i.e. adaptability and health, positive relationship, occupational growth, personal security, and continued focus on goals), were significantly related to the intentions to stay in the organization. Structural equation modeling showed that perceived organizational support was positively related to successful aging in the workplace, and the latter is related to the intentions to stay, both directly and via the mediation of job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

All data were self‐reported and collected at one time point. Thus, common method variance may be an issue and causal inferences are not warranted.

Practical implications

Successful aging in the workplace was significantly related to older workers' intentions to stay. Managers may provide a wide range of organizational support and enhance successful aging in the workplace for older workers.

Originality/value

This is the first study to empirically test the relations between successful aging in the workplace and intentions to stay among older workers. Implications of these findings, the limitations of the study, and directions for future research are discussed.

Citation

Cheung, F. and Wu, A.M.S. (2013), "Older workers' successful aging and intention to stay", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 28 No. 6, pp. 645-660. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPM-09-2011-0062