21413: Antecedents of Meaningful Work: A Meta-Analysis of the Justification and Realization Perspectives (session 25496)

Extensive research has explored the antecedents of meaningful work, yet our understanding of the sources of meaningful work remains fragmented, with numerous inconsistencies in existing empirical findings. This meta-analysis draws on two ideal-type perspectives of meaningful work to develop a nomological network of its antecedents. We reconcile divergent findings in the literature by distinguishing between proximal and distal work-related antecedents across three pathways (i.e., individuation, unification, and contribution), and emphasize the moderating role of three cultural values (i.e., assertiveness, institutional collectivism, and humane orientation). Based on 359 primary studies (N = 322,478), we found that proximal individuation-related, unification-related, and contribution-related psychological states are positively related to meaningful work. Similarly, distal antecedents in these three categories are also positively related to meaningful work. Furthermore, three cultural values (i.e., assertiveness, institutional collectivism, and humane orientation) correspondingly enhance the effects of individuation-related, unification-related, and contribution-related psychological states on meaningful work. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how and why meaningful work is constructed and offer valuable implications for practitioners.

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