Psychology Faculty Publications

Job Desperation: Scale Development and Construct Validation

Document Type

Article

Abstract

We introduce a new construct to the vocational behavior literature: job desperation. Job desperation is defined as a state of despair in which a person feels pressure to find a new job, has a negative evaluation of his/her current employment situation, and will go to extreme lengths to find a new job. Using self-determination theory, we provide a theoretical rationale for job desperation. Across two studies, we developed and validated the job desperation scale (JDS). In Study 1, we generated a pool of items and evaluated them using a combination of psychometric techniques including item response theory. In Study 2, we examined the construct validity of the JDS. Results suggest that job desperation is a strong predictor of job search behavior, predicting unique variance in job search behavior over and above other relevant antecedents such as financial strain and job insecurity. We believe job desperation adds to and expands our knowledge of the antecedents of job search behavior by serving as a unique and relevant explanation for why people search for jobs.; We introduce a new construct to the vocational behavior literature: job desperation. Job desperation is defined as a state of despair in which a person feels pressure to find a new job, has a negative evaluation of his/her current employment situation, and will go to extreme lengths to find a new job. Using self-determination theory, we provide a theoretical rationale for job desperation. Across two studies, we developed and validated the job desperation scale (JDS). In Study 1, we generated a pool of items and evaluated them using a combination of psychometric techniques including item response theory. In Study 2, we examined the construct validity of the JDS. Results suggest that job desperation is a strong predictor of job search behavior, predicting unique variance in job search behavior over and above other relevant antecedents such as financial strain and job insecurity. We believe job desperation adds to and expands our knowledge of the antecedents of job search behavior by serving as a unique and relevant explanation for why people search for jobs.

Publication Date

2023

Publication Title

Journal of Career Assessment

Publisher

SAGE

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/10690727221149395

Volume

31

Issue

4

Start Page No.

739

End Page No.

755

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