Predicting work values: A psychology of working theory perspective

Abstract

Drawing on the perspective of the Psychology of Working Theory, this study adopted a latent change score model to examine how changes in work volition and decent work during the COVID-19 pandemic related to post-pandemic work values. We conducted a three-wave longitudinal study with 276 Chinese working adults over nearly three years. We found that higher levels of and increases in work volition positively related to increases in decent work during the pandemic. Increases in decent work also negatively related to the work value of pay and positively related to the work value of relationships. Finally, higher levels of decent work during the early stages of the pandemic were positively related to three post-pandemic work values: autonomy, relationships, and altruism. Overall, we demonstrated that the Psychology of Working Theory explains work values, contributing to a deeper understanding of how work values were influenced by the work experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.