Work, knowledge and subjective wellbeing

• Autores: Clara Viñas Bardolet
• Directores de la Tesis: Joan Torrent i Sellens (codir. tes.), Mónica Guillen Royo (codir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya ( España ) en 2021
• Idioma: español
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: François Meunier (presid.), Ana Isabel Jiménez Zarco (secret.), Fabio Sabatini (voc.)
• Materias:
  • Ciencias médicas
    • Medicina del trabajo
      • Salud profesional
  • Ciencias económicas
    • Teoría económica
      • Teoría del bienestar
  • Psicología
    • Psicología industrial
      • Motivación y actitudes
  • Sociología
    • Problemas sociales
      • Bienestar social
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: O2 Repositori UOC
• Resumen

  • This thesis examines how work characteristics affect life satisfaction in Europe – more specifically, the relationship between ICT intensification in the workplace and workers’ subjective wellbeing. How do jobs and current work characteristics associated with the increased use of ICTs affect job satisfaction and life satisfaction in Europe? The thesis is meant as a contribution to the emerging literature on with new working patterns and subjective wellbeing.

    This thesis studies the case of workers in Europe in the early 21st century, using a combination of three European sources of data from official statistical agencies. The thesis is divided in three parts. The empirical analysis applies econometric models, responding to the research questions, to study correlational relationships (Papers I and III) and causal linkages (Paper II). Human wellbeing is approached from a subjective angle, including different factors affecting job satisfaction and life satisfaction deemed relevant by social scientists today.

    The conclusions provide insights that are relevant not only for academia, but also for company organizations, human resources management and policy makers. First, this thesis notes the importance of distinguishing by type of workers concerning wellbeing. Second, the findings show that income plays a relatively small role in all domains of satisfaction. Rather, factors related to working conditions and work organization should be incorporated in job contracts. Third, the effects of ICT are that they moderate the role of the determinants of job satisfaction. Finally, the thesis shows that working life characteristics affect satisfaction with most domains of life. For example, the increasing insecurity in the job market and the challenges experienced by EU workers in achieving a good work–life balance correlate negatively with satisfaction in every domain of life.