Age and work‐related motives: Results of a meta‐analysis

Abstract An updated literature review was conducted and a meta‐analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between age and work‐related motives. Building on theorizing in life span psychology, we hypothesized the existence of age‐related differences in work‐related motives. Specifically, we proposed an age‐related increase in the strength of security and social motives, and an age‐related decrease in the strength of growth motives. To investigate life span developmental theory predictions about age‐related differences in control strategies, we also examined the relationship between age and intrinsic and extrinsic motives. Consistent with our predictions, meta‐analytic results showed a significant…