The Role of Work Centrality in Complicated Grief Symptoms Following Job Loss in Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures

Abstract

Culture influences the importance people attribute to their work, also known as work centrality. Additionally, involuntary job loss has been associated with negative mental health effects, such as job loss complicated grief symptoms (JLCG). To this day, little is known about the role of culture on JLCG and work centrality. To address this research gap, this study explored the relationship between JLCG and work centrality within a cultural context, examining a collectivistic group of 138 Greek participants and an individualistic sample of 123 Dutch participants. Results revealed a positive association between work centrality and JLCG, in addition to higher work centrality scores in the individualistic culture. The moderation analysis, however, did not confirm a moderation role of culture in the relationship between JLCG and work centrality. The implications of this study allow identification of individuals at risk of developing JLCG. Findings pave the way for the implementation of preventative measures and employee dismissal strategies in the case of job loss.