The Connection between Motivation and Job Significance among Academically Trained Employees: A Case Study of Workers in Out-of-Home Settings

Side by side with awareness of the rights of people with disabilities, attention is now focusing on the caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and on how they enhance the quality of life of this population group. In community-based residential facilities, these care workers provide people with IDD with training and support in activities of daily living, educational and social activities, and a wide range of medical and psychological treatments. Despite the challenges and significance of this work, there is a shortage of high-quality personnel. The current study examined the association between motivation and perceived meaning in one’s job and satisfaction and intention to leave among care workers in out-of-home facilities for people with IDD. The sample included 79 care workers with post-secondary education employed at out-of-home facilities of the Welfare Ministry, in non-managerial roles as direct caregivers, counselors, and coordinators, in Northern Israel. The main finding of the study is low motivation and satisfaction. In addition, a positive association was found between work motivation and satisfaction with the workplace, and a negative association between satisfaction with the work itself, and intention to leave the workplace. No significant association was found between finding meaning in one’s job and satisfaction with the work. The study sheds light on this important yet understudied area. Although it is very important to place skilled educated personnel in caregiving roles among the disabled in general and those with IDD living in out-of-home facilities in particular, it is also necessary to strengthen the ties between academic education and actual reality of working in the field with people with disabilities.