Situational Strength as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Job Performance: A Meta-Analytic Examination

Purpose: The purpose of the current meta-analysis was to test the hypothesis that situational strength attenuates the positive relationship between job satisfaction and job performance. Design/methodology/approach: Using meta-analytic data (k = 101, N = 19,494) and regression analysis, we examined situational strength’s association with the satisfaction–performance relationship. Findings: As hypothesized, the constraints dimension of situational strength was negatively associated with the magnitude of the job satisfaction–job performance relationship. Unexpectedly, the consequences dimension of situational strength failed to produce a similar effect. Implications: The current study provides insight into when job satisfaction and job performance are most likely and least likely to be related to each other. Thus, it has important theoretical implications for job attitude researchers and it has applied implications for practitioners wishing to increase job performance by improving employee satisfaction. Originality/value: The current study is the first large-scale examination of situational strength as a moderator of the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance.