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Happy job, happy life? Works both ways, new research shows

A major new international study exploring the long-term relationship between job and life satisfaction shows that personal happiness is the major driver for a satisfying work life, not the other way around.

The finding, in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, challenges conventional thinking that job satisfaction has a stronger influence on life satisfaction than vice versa, and provides crucial insights for employers about the importance of work-life balance.

Researchers from the U.S., Germany and South Australia analyzed data from more than 160,000 people across multiple global studies, demonstrating how the intertwined paths of job and life satisfaction shift and shape each other over time.

The study found that individuals with higher life satisfaction were 32% more likely to experience increased job satisfaction over time. While job satisfaction does have a positive effect on future life satisfaction, it is comparatively weaker and diminishes over time.

First author Christopher Wiese, Assistant Psychology Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, says the study highlights the critical role of holistic well-being in professional performance and career fulfillment.

"Organizations that focus solely on job satisfaction initiatives may be missing a fundamental component of employee happiness," he says.

"By prioritizing overall well-being strategies—including mental health support, work-life balance initiatives, and personal development—organizations can foster a more engaged and satisfied workforce."

Christian Dormann, Professor of Business Education & Management from Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany, and an Adjunct Research Professor at the University of South Australia, says that psychologists have long assumed that job satisfaction drives overall happiness.

"However, our research shows that the opposite is more powerful," Prof Dormann says. "If employers truly want to enhance workplace satisfaction, they need to invest in employees' broader well-being."

"This study provides a compelling case for businesses to adopt a people-first approach. If employees are happy in their personal lives, they bring that positivity to work. It's a cycle that organizations can help nurture."

The researchers have made several recommendations based on the study findings:

• Implementing flexible work arrangements to support employees' personal commitments
• Encouraging mental health and wellness programs to improve overall life satisfaction
• Providing opportunities for personal and professional growth that extend beyond job-related tasks
• Fostering a workplace culture that values employees' lives outside of work