A Longitudinal Study of Age-Related Differences in Reactions to Psychological Contract Breach

The current paper investigated age-related differences in the relations of psychological contract breach with work outcomes over time. Based on socio-emotional selectivity theory, it was predicted that reactions to contract breach on job satisfaction and job performance would be stronger among younger workers than older workers. This two-wave panel study among 240 employees investigated interactions of age with three types of psychological contract breach (economic, socio-emotional, and developmental), in relation to changes in job satisfaction and job performance over time. Moderated structural equation modeling showed that negative affectivity partially mediated the relationships between contract breach and job satisfaction and job performance. Moreover, the analyses supported socio-emotional selectivity theory; older workers reacted less intensely to all three types of psychological contract breach towards job satisfaction and job performance, indicating a general decreased emotional responsiveness of ...