Associations Between Dopamine and Serotonin Genes and Job Satisfaction: Preliminary Evidence From the Add Health Study

作者：Song Zhaoli^*; Li Wendong; Arvey Richard D

来源：Journal of Applied Psychology, 2011, 96(6): 1223-1233.

DOI：10.1037/a0024577

• job satisfaction
• molecular genetics
• DNA
• dopamine
• serotonin

Previous behavioral genetic studies have found that job satisfaction is partially heritable. We went a step further to examine particular genetic markers that may be associated with job satisfaction. Using an oversample from the National Adolescent Longitudinal Study (Add Health Study), we found 2 genetic markers, dopamine receptor gene DRD4 VNTR and serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR, to be weakly but significantly associated with job satisfaction. Furthermore, we found study participants' level of pay to mediate the DRD4 and job satisfaction relationship. However, we found no evidence that self-esteem mediated the relationships between these 2 genes and job satisfaction. The study represents an initial effort to introduce a molecular genetics approach to the fields of organizational psychology and organizational behavior.

• 出版日期2011-11