2022
DOI: 10.1093/workar/waac024
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Age and Time Horizons Are Associated With Preferences for Helping Colleagues

Abstract: The present study examined the causal role of time horizons in age differences in worker motivation. Based on socioemotional selectivity theory (SST), we hypothesized that under unspecified time horizons, older workers prefer to engage in emotionally meaningful work activities more so than younger workers. We further hypothesized that when time horizons at work are expanded or limited, age differences are eliminated. We recruited a sample of employees (N = 555) and randomly assigned them to one of three experi… Show more

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Cited by 11 publications
(4 citation statements)
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“…Future studies should also examine how perceived time horizons at work influence preferences for helping and learning. Recent evidence suggests that experimental constraints on work time horizons eliminate age differences in helping (Shavit et al, 2022), yet findings from the present study suggest that age differences in helping remain even after controlling for time horizons.…”
Section: Limitations and Future Directionscontrasting
confidence: 82%
“…Future studies should also examine how perceived time horizons at work influence preferences for helping and learning. Recent evidence suggests that experimental constraints on work time horizons eliminate age differences in helping (Shavit et al, 2022), yet findings from the present study suggest that age differences in helping remain even after controlling for time horizons.…”
Section: Limitations and Future Directionscontrasting
confidence: 82%
“…Regarding age, there were differences primarily among the respondents who were over years old. According to Shavit et al [53], older employees favor working conditions featuring positive social relations among colleagues and opportunities for applying knowledge. As these employees transition into the later stages of their careers, the intrinsic factors of work design, such as those related to the work context, become increasingly important, contributing to higher levels of well-being in this demographic.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Kanfer and Ackerman (2004) integrated generativity as a motive with socioemotional selectivity theory and argued that older workers prioritise the collaborative nature of goal accomplishments above that of competition with colleagues. In line with this, Shavit et al (2022) conclude their brief review of age-related differences in work motivation by stating that '…older workers are more motivated to engage in work tasks such as helping that affect emotional well-being in the present, whereas younger workers are more focused on professional growth at work' (p. 2). However, in their experimental study, helping behaviours were displayed by older workers only when participants' time horizons were unspecified, as compared to restricted or expanded.…”
Section: Older Workers' Contribution To the Work Environmentmentioning
confidence: 93%