Title:	Sensation Seeking at Work: Advances in Measurement and New Research Perspectives
Authors:	Schaefer, Julia Amanda
ORCID of the author:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7268-2050
Thesis advisor:	Staufenbiel, Thomas
Thesis referee:	Müller, Karsten
Abstract:	Sensation seeking is a personality trait that describes the extent to which stimulated bodily sensations (e.g., an increased heartbeat, physical tension) are experienced as positive. It has been linked to a number of variables, including driving behaviors, psychopathology, music preferences, and resilience. However, comparatively little is known about the significance of sensation seeking in the work context. While some studies have examined how sensation seeking relates to career interests and career choice, relationships with work behaviors or job attitudes have been rarely investigated. The aim of this dissertation thesis was to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of sensation seeking at work. In the first chapter of the thesis, different conceptualizations and measures of sensation seeking are presented and compared. Moreover, a distinction is made between sensation seeking and related constructs. Subsequently, previous research findings on sensation seeking in the work context are summarized, and research gaps in this field are outlined. In the second chapter, four empirical studies (reported in three articles) are presented that addressed these gaps. The studies investigated sensation seeking from different research perspectives to gain a broad understanding of its role in the workplace. To measure sensation seeking appropriately at work, a new scale, the Need for Sensations at Work Scale, was developed in the first step (Article 1). The questionnaire showed satisfactory psychometric properties and was used in the further studies. It has been shown that sensation seeking is positively related to increasing challenging job demands. In addition, a positive relationship between sensation seeking and job satisfaction was found for individuals who have a great variety of tasks to perform at work, whereas no significant relationship was identified for individuals with moderate or low task variety. Based on this finding, Article 2 investigated sensation seeking from a need-supply fit perspective. Response surface analyses revealed that congruence between the desired frequency of sensations to be experienced (as an indicator of sensation seeking) and the actual frequency of sensations experienced at work is associated with higher job satisfaction. No congruence effect was found for organizational citizenship behavior or emotional exhaustion. In Article 3, a further perspective was taken by investigating the role of sensation seeking in everyday working life. Participants’ time pressure, work engagement, and affect were assessed over two consecutive work weeks. Time pressure was positively related to work engagement for individuals with high sensation seeking, whereas no significant relationship was identified for individuals with low sensation seeking. In addition, time pressure was positively related to negative affect for low sensation seekers, whereas a U-shaped relationship was identified for high sensation seekers. The results presented in this dissertation thesis provide a broad overview of the role of sensation seeking in the work context. In the general discussion section, important theoretical and practical implications are elaborated. Moreover, limitations and ideas for further research are discussed. Overall, the thesis represents a promising basis for future research on sensation seeking in the work context.
URL:	https://doi.org/10.48693/603 https://osnadocs.ub.uni-osnabrueck.de/handle/ds-2024111211796
Subject Keywords:	sensation seeking; work; scale construction; need-supply fit; diary study
Issue Date:	12-Nov-2024
License name:	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany
License url:	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/de/
Type of publication:	Dissertation oder Habilitation [doctoralThesis]
Appears in Collections:	FB08 - E-Dissertationen

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