Previously a narrowly researched phenomenon (Fine & Nevo, 2008), interest in underemployment is gaining momentum and current research (Erdogan, Bauer, Peiro, & Truxillo, 2011a; 2011b; Feldman & Maynard, 2011) in the area has provided increased attention. Underemployment is a multi-disciplinary issue where individuals are unable to obtain adequate employment according to several underlying dimensions (Feldman, 1996). Until recently, research has been sparse and the research findings have been conflicting due to the atheoretical application of theory and different operationalizations of underemployment (McKee-Ryan & Harvey, 2011). The purpose of this two-study dissertation is to develop a psychometrically-sound measure of the underemployment construct by evaluating its theoretical underpinnings and applying deductive scale development techniques (Hinkin, 1998), and to test a hypothesized research model that evaluates the antecedents and consequences of underemployment. Three data samples (N = 143; N = 322; N = 213) were utilized to assess the psychometric properties of the new subjective underemployment (UDE) scale. Study 1 results confirmed overall subjective underemployment as a higher-order factor for underlying underemployment dimensions (i.e. Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities, Wages, Job Status, and Job Field). The UDE scale demonstrated adequate composite reliability, content, convergent, and discriminant validity. It related highly and positively to two existing underemployment scales (i.e., Scale of Perceived Overqualification and Bolino - Feldman's Underemployment scale). The UDE scale was related moderately and positively to relative deprivation, weakly and positively to narcissism, perceived entitlement, situational constraint, and psychological contract breach. It also related weakly and negatively to job satisfaction. In Study 2, the research model evaluation (N = 213) supported the criterion-related validity of the new UDE scale. Although an examination of demographic variables as subjective underemployment's antecedents revealed no significant relationships, two job-related factors (i.e., objective underemployment and psychological contract breach) positively predicted subjective underemployment. Subjective underemployment also positively predicted negative affective well-being, and negatively predicted positive affective well-being, justice perceptions (i.e., distributive and procedural), and social support (i.e., supervisor and coworker). The results also offered evidence of potential boundary conditions and moderation effects for voluntary or involuntary employment situation on subjective underemployment. Contributions to research, study strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are provided. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Management in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2013. / April 19, 2013. / Job skills mismatch, Labor Underutilization, Overeducation, Overqualification,
Skill Underutilization, Underemployment / Includes bibliographical references. / Gerald R. Ferris, Professor Directing Dissertation; Pamela P. Perrewe, Professor Co-Directing Dissertation; Charles F. Hofacker, University Representative; Jack T. Fiorito, Committee Member; Wayne A. Hochwarter, Committee Member; Chad H. Van Iddekinge, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_253369 |
| Contributors | Thompson, Katina Williams (authoraut), Ferris, Gerald R. (professor directing dissertation), Perrewe, Pamela P. (professor co-directing dissertation), Hofacker, Charles F. (university representative), Fiorito, Jack T. (committee member), Hochwarter, Wayne A. (committee member), Van Iddekinge, Chad H. (committee member), Department of Management (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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