Perceived Over-qualification and Job Satisfaction of New Graduates: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

In this paper, the relative deprivation theory is used as the basis to explore the mechanism and boundary conditions of the effect of over-qualification on the job satisfaction of new graduates. An empirical study based on 341 matching data in two stages found that: (1) Perceived over-qualification negatively affects job satisfaction and positively affects relative deprivation; (2) Relative deprivation played a mediating role in the relationship between over-qualification and job satisfaction; (3) Leadership empowerment behaviour moderated the relationship between relative deprivation and job satisfaction. In the case of low-level leadership authorization, the relative deprivation of new graduates has a stronger impact on job satisfaction; (4) Leadership authorization further moderates the indirect effect of perceived over-qualification on job satisfaction through perceived relative deprivation. In the case of high-level leadership authorization, the indirect effect of perceived over-qualification on job satisfaction is weaker than that of perceived deprivation.