How does organisational support improve job satisfaction? A moderated mediation analysis based on evidence from a global survey

We tested a moderated mediation model that examines the mediating role of personal accomplishment and the moderating role of work interest in the relationship between organisational support and job satisfaction among post-doctoral students/fellows. Our sample comprised 6 575 post-doctoral students/fellows from the 2020 Nature Survey. The result revealed that organisational support directly and positively related to job satisfaction, and indirectly related to job satisfaction via personal accomplishment. Work interest moderated the relationship between organisational support and personal accomplishment, and also moderated the mediating role of personal accomplishment in the relationship between organisational support and job satisfaction, associated with higher job satisfaction. The job demands-resources model may explain these findings in that job resources will generally produce positive psychological feelings, and ultimately raise job satisfaction. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms for job satisfaction of early research career state employees considering organisation support and their personal factors.