Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between trait Neuroticism, materialism, pay and job satisfaction which is a topic of interest to many different disciplines and professionals. Method: Over 1000 participants completed four standardized questionnaires online. Results: As hypothesised, individuals with high Neuroticism and materialism scores tended to experience significantly less pay and job satisfaction. In a regression, salary, Neuroticism and materialism accounted for 18.2% of the variance of pay satisfaction, while for job satisfaction 12.7% were explained by the variables, of which salary itself only accounted for a very small amount. Interaction effects (salary-materialism and Neuroticism-materialism) were found on pay and job satisfaction, as well as a three-way interaction (salary-Neuroticism-materialism) on job satisfaction. Conclusion: The results support the often disputed fact that actual pay (salary), pay satisfaction and job satisfaction are very weakly positively associated, and that materialism and neuroticism are more closely linked to both job and pay satisfaction.
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