Job insecurity and fatherhood: Health, anger, and job security satisfaction outcomes for parenting and non-parenting men

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Job insecurity universally has negative effects for employees in terms of both personal and organizational outcomes. These outcomes include depression, work safety, employee morale, and health. This study investigated whether certain personal outcomes (emotional and physical health) may be exacerbated for men who have children. Current models of fatherhood draw not only upon the concept of fathers as good providers, but as active participants in parenting. This multi-tasking conceptualization of fatherhood is used to explore how fatherhood may impact the manner in which men experience job insecurity. Seventy-four men, primarily from civil service occupations, participated in this study.

Findings and Conclusions: A 2x2 MANOVA was performed to investigate parenting status by level of job insecurity effects on men's anger, health, and job security satisfaction. Results indicated that while men's levels of job insecurity (high or low) were negatively correlated with job security satisfaction, no other statistically significant relationships emerged. Parenting and non-parenting men, therefore, demonstrated no significant differences in reported symptoms of coping with job insecurity.