Does Job Autonomy Mediate the Relationship Between Remote Work Intensity and Job Satisfaction, and is this Moderated by Age?

Stuckert, Niclas (2025) Does Job Autonomy Mediate the Relationship Between Remote Work Intensity and Job Satisfaction, and is this Moderated by Age? Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

The landscape of modern knowledge work, constituting approximately one third of the global workforce, is one of constant change. Since COVID-19, remote and hybrid work have become popular options among professionals. When dealing with workplace demands, one commonly advised solution is to enhance worker’s job autonomy to help with work outcomes, such as job satisfaction. One such method is theorised to be through increasing remote work intensity (RWI). However, excessive remote work may have unintended downsides. Based on the vitamin model, a curvilinear relationship between job autonomy and job satisfaction may exist. Additionally, younger individuals might struggle more with excess autonomy, lacking the necessary experience to effectively deal with workplace demands. The paper examines the influence of RWI on job autonomy’s relationship with job satisfaction as moderated by age. The present paper finds no increase in job autonomy with higher RWI, and younger employees seem to prefer having more autonomy, experiencing a significant positive linear relationship between job autonomy and job satisfaction. Older employees experience diminishing results for job satisfaction and plateau when provided with high amounts of job autonomy. The findings imply that organisations should encourage opportunities for remote work for younger employees. Until future research replicates these findings with current data not influenced by COVID-19, generalisability is limited. Future research on the effects of RWI on job autonomy is required. Overall, this paper adds insight on age in the workplace and the existence of excessive job resources. Keywords: Job Autonomy, Job Satisfaction, Age, RWI

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Scheibe, S.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2025 09:16
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2025 09:16
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5354

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