Religiosity, Spirituality and Their Relationship to Job Satisfaction Quantitative Data from Faith-Based Schools in Australia – Part One
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This paper is the first of a two-part report on a mixed methods study that examined the job satisfaction of teachers who worked in faith-based schools. Five aspects of the work of teaching (colleagues, working conditions, responsibility, work itself, and recognition) and two transcendent factors (spirituality and religiosity) were examined to see how they impacted overall job satisfaction. In this mixed methods project, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a sample that consisted of nine schools in two Australian faith-based educational systems: Lutheran and Seventh-day Adventist. This paper reports on the findings from regression analysis of the quantitative data (N = 221), which indicated that overall job satisfaction was influenced by a combination of direct and indirect relationships that centred around working conditions, work itself, religiosity, and the age of the respondent. It also was found that religiosity impacted overall job satisfaction directly and indirectly via the mediating element of spirituality. A partial discussion of the results is presented in this report, but the complete discussion will be found in Part Two (2024).
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright: Asia-Pacific International University reserve exclusive rights to publish, reproduce and distribute the manuscript and all contents therein.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Schools. ABS.https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/ 4221.02019?OpenDocument
Australian Psychological Society. (2022, June 20). Bleak new figures confirm depth of mental health crisis [Press release]. https://psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-releases/2022/bleak-new-figures-confirm-depth-of-mental-health-c
Bal, Y., & Kökalan, Ö. (2021). The moderating effect of religiosity on the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction. Frontiers Psychology, 12, 750493. https://doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.750493
Baqai, H. R. (2020). Perceived servant-leadership affects job satisfaction in higher education. The International Journal of Servant-Leadership, 14(1), 187–216. https://doi: 10.33972/ijsl.29
Beazley, H. (2004). No regrets: A ten step program for living in the present and leaving the past behind. John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Bulger, C. A., Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2020). Psychology and work today (11 ed.). Routledge.
Captari, L. E., Sandage, S. J., Vandiver, R. A., Jankowski, P. J., & Hook, J. N. (2023). Integrating positive psychology, religion/spirituality, and a virtue focus within culturally responsive mental healthcare. In E. B. Davis, E. L. Worthington Jr. & S. A. Schnitker (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology, religion, and spirituality (pp. 413–428). Springer International Publishing.
Carette, J., & King, R. (2004). Selling spirituality - The silent takeover of religion. Routledge.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Dinham, S., & Scott, C. (1998). A three domain model of teacher and school executive career satisfaction. Journal of Educational Administration, 36(4), 362–378. https://doi:10.1108/09578239810211545
Dubey, P., Pathak, A. K., & Sahu, K. K. (2020). Correlates of workplace spirituality on job satisfaction, leadership, organisational citizenship behaviour and organisational growth: A literature-based study from organisational perspective. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 9(4), 1493–1502.
Ebrahim, S. (2021). The employee's right to freedom of religion versus the employer's workplace needs: An ongoing battle: TDF Network Africa (Pty) Ltd v Faris 2019 40 ILJ 326 (LAC). Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 24, 1-24. https://doi: 10.17159/1727-3781/2021/v24i0a7973
Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group. (1999). Multidimensional measurement of religiosity/spirituality. https://fetzer.org/sites/default/files/resources/attachment/%5Bcurrent-date%3Atiny%5D/Multidimensional_Measurement_of_Religousness_Spirituality.pdf
Flake, D. F. (2020). Restoring reasonableness to workplace religious accommodations. Washington Law Review, 95(4), 1673–1724. https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wlr/vol95/iss4/2
Fornaciari, C., & Lund Dean, K. (2004). Diapers to car keys: The state of spirituality, religion and work research. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 1(1), 7–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766080409518540
Furnham, A. (2003). Ethics at work–money, spirituality, and happiness. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance. M. E. Sharpe.
Giacalone, R. A., & Jurkiewicz, C. L. (2003a). Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance. M. E. Sharpe.
Giacalone, R. A., & Jurkiewicz, C. L. (2003b). Towards a science of workplace spirituality. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 3–29). M. E. Sharpe.
Guillory, W. A. (2001). The living organisation - spirituality in the workplace: A guide for adapting to the chaotically changing workplace (2nd ed.). Innovations International Inc.
Hassan, M., Nadeem, A.B., & Akhter, A. (2016). Impact of workplace spirituality on job satisfaction: Mediating effect of trust. Cogent Business & Management, 3(1), 1189808. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2016. 1189808
Hefny, L. (2021). The relationships between job satisfaction dimensions, organizational commitment and turnover intention: The moderating role of ethical climate in travel agencies. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 20(1), 1–23. https://doi: 10.1080/15332845.2020.1821425
Herzberg, F. (1987). One more time: How do you motivate employees? Harvard Business Review, 65(5), 109–120.
Herzberg, F., Mausner, B., & Snyderman, B. (1959). The motivation to work. John Wiley & Sons.
Hill, P. C., & Hood Jr., R. W. (1999). Measures of religiosity. Religious Education Press.
Independent Schools Council of Australia. (2023). Snapshot 2023. https://isa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2023/05/ISA_SNAPSHOT_2023_WEB_FINAL.pdf
Ingersoll, R. E. (2003). Spiritual wellness in the workplace. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Organziational Performance. M. E. Sharpe.
King, J. E. (2008). (Dis)missing the obvious: Will mainstream management research ever take religion seriously? Journal of Management Inquiry, 17(3), 214–224. https://doi:10.1177/1056492608314205
Kulik, C. T., Oldham, G. R., & Langner, P. H. (1988). Measurement of job characteristics: Comparison of the original and the revised job diagnostic survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 73(3), 462–466.
Lata, M., & Chaudhary, R. (2020). Dark Triad and instigated incivility: The moderating role of workplace spirituality. Personality & Individual Differences, 166. https://doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110090
Locke, E. A. (1976). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In M. D. Dunette (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 1297–1347). Rand McNally.
Marques, J., Dhiman, S., & King, R. (2007). Spirituality in the Workplace: What it is, Why it matters, How to make it work for You. Personhood Press.
Marques, J. F. (2004). Spirituality in the workplace: Establishing a broadly acceptable definition of this phenomenon [Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University, United States]. http://proquest.umi.com/ pqdweb?did=765939761&Fmt=7&clientId=38858&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Metheny, G. A., West, G. B., Winston, B. E., & Wood, J. A. (2015). Faculty in faith-based institutions: Participation in decision-making and its impact on job satisfaction. Journal of Research on Christian Education, 24(2), 144 –168.
Mitroff, I. I., & Denton, E. A. (1999). A spiritual audit of corporate America. Jossey-Bass.
Morris, P. (2021, April 28). The Australian mental health crisis: A system failure in need of treatment [Press release]. https://napp.org.au/2021/04/the-australian-mental-health-crisis-a-system-failure-in-need-of-treatment/
Nash, R. J. (2002). Spirituality, ethics, religions, and teaching: A professor’s journey. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.
Obregon, S. L., Lopes, L. F. D., Kaczam, F., da Veiga, C. P., & da Silva, W. V. (2022). Religiosity, spirituality and work: A systematic literature review and research directions. Journal of Business Ethics, 179(2), 573–595. https://doi: 10.1007/s10551-021-04856-7
Paloutzian, R. F., & Park, C. L. (eds.). (2005). Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality. Guilford Press.
Pokhariyal, G. P. (2020). Importance of spirituality and happiness at the workplace. International Journal on World Peace, 37(3), 65–73.
Poole, E. (2009). Organisational spirituality: A lLiterature Review. Journal of Business Ethics, 84(4), 577–588.
Purnamasari, P., & Amaliah, I. (2015). Fraud prevention: Relevance to religiosity and spirituality in the workplace. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 211, 827–835.
Rhodes, T. L. (2003). When the spirit moves you: Administration, law, and spirituality in the workplace. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organziational performance (pp. 378–389). M. E. Sharpe.
Rice, R. W., Near, J. P., & Hunt, R. G. (1980). The job-satisfaction/ life-satisfaction relationship: A review of empirical research. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 1(1), 37–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/ s15324834basp0101_4
Rocha, R. G., & Pinheiro, P. G. (2021). Organizational spirituality: Concept and perspectives. Journal of Business Ethics, 171(2), 241–252. https://doi: 10.1007/s10551-020-04463-y
Rolheiser, R. (1999). The holy longing. Doubleday.
Shine, K. (2015). Reporting the 'exodus': News coverage of teacher shortage in Australian newspapers. Issues in Educational Research, 25(4), 501–516.
Smith, N. R. (2006). Workplace spirituality: A complete guide for business leaders. Axial Age Publishing.
Stanard, R. P., Sandhu, D. S., & Painter, L. C. (2000). Assessment of sprituality in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78(2), 204–210. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2000.tb02579.x
Staw, B. M., Bell, N. E., & Clausen, J. A. (1986). The dispositional approach to job attitudes: A lifetime longitudinal test. Administrative Science Quarterly, 31, 56–77. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392766
Staw, B. M., & Cohen-Charash, Y. (2005). The dispositional approach to job satisfaction: More than a mirage, but not yet an oasis. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(1), 59–78. https://doi: 10.1002/job.299
Taylor, F. W. (1911). The principles of scientific management. Harper & Brothers.
Tischler, L., Biberman, J., & Altman, Y. (2007). A model for researching about spirituality in organizations. Business Renaissance Quarterly, 2(2), 23–39.
Zinnbauer, B. J., & Pargament, K. I. (2005). Religiousness and spirituality. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 21–42). The Guilford Press.