Influence of Personal Growth Initiative on the Relationship Between Culture and Work Values

The importance of understanding work values has become increasingly relevant as research supports a positive relationship between the fulfillment of work values and job satisfaction (Super, 1973; Hoppe, 1990; Rounds, 1990). This study theorizes that cultural orientation leads to the development of culturally congruent work values. This study also investigates Personal Growth Initiative (PGI), as a potential modifier of the relationship between cultural orientation and the development of culturally congruent work values. Previous research supports a positive relationship between high levels of PGI and expression of one’s culture. Thus, this research hypothesized that people with high PGI would have a stronger relationship between cultural orientation and culturally congruent work values than people with low PGI who would show a weaker relationship between cultural orientation and culturally congruent work values. This study examined the work values and cultural orientation of a sample of 352 White/Caucasian and Mexican American college students. Simple correlations indicated there were positive, significant relationships between cultural orientation and culturally congruent work values, but these relationships also were found for culturally incongruent work values. Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that PGI significantly moderated the relationships between select work values and cultural orientation. This moderation occurred mainly when cultural orientation was operationalized using a measure of acculturation (Anglo Orientation Scale v. Mexican Orientation Scale). Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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