- Men in mid-level jobs rate their life satisfaction lowest
- Women’s life satisfaction was found to be less dependent on their employment status.
Men in mid-status jobs are much less satisfied with their lives than guys in high- or low-status roles, a new study has revealed.
Researchers at the SP Jain London School of Management describe these men as the “miserable middle”.
However, their study did not find a link between occupational status and life satisfaction in women.
“The ‘miserable middle’ is caused by men never holding high- or low-status jobs,” explained Professor Yannis Georgelli, who led the research.
‘Likewise, people who move from low-status jobs to middle-status jobs may feel frustrated at not reaching the top of the career ladder. But men who have always held low-status positions do not experience this frustration.”
Men in medium-status jobs are much less satisfied with their lives than men in high- or low-status roles, a new study has revealed (file image)
In their study, the team set out to understand whether or not there is a link between occupational status and life satisfaction.
They recruited 13,500 people from across the UK, who were surveyed over 20 years.
Participants were asked to rate their life satisfaction on a scale of one to seven, while their occupational status was measured on a standard scale.
The results revealed that men with middle-status jobs were the unhappiest.
“We found that men trapped in mediocre jobs were the most miserable, and that occupational mobility is key to the life satisfaction of these men,” Professor Georgellis said.
In general, women’s life satisfaction was found to be less dependent on their employment status. However, this was not the case for women with a higher educational level (archive image)
The researchers compare this pattern to the “Silver Medalist” effect.
This describes how people who win silver medals in sports competitions are the least happy as they compare themselves to gold medal winners.
In contrast, bronze medal winners are happier because they can consider the alternative of not getting a medal at all.
In general, women’s life satisfaction was found to be less dependent on their employment status.
However, this was not the case for women with higher educational levels.
“With the sharp increase in women’s education, which now surpasses that of men, the professional situation seems destined to play a much more important role in the well-being of all workers,” added Professor Georgellis.
