Occupational work, meaning and well-being: Towards an integrative model

The study of meaning of work (MOW) is an essential step towards understanding work as a life role in post-modern western cultures, where occupational stature also plays a central role in the individual's sense of identity and well-being. This thesis advances that theory by analyzing the role of MOW in the job-health relationship. MOW is presented as a historically relative issue, deeply framed by socio-cultural factors. Given the disciplinary overlap on. work-health issues, a multidisciplinary overview of the literature is developed, integrating relevant findings from research on MOW patterns, job attitudes and job-health dynamics. Based on that synthetic conceptual framework, an integrative model pinpointing the pervasive role of MOW in the work-health relationship is presented, and methodological concerns are discussed. A closing analysis of future trends in the working scenario and unfolding research agenda is developed, specifying important but yet obscure pieces in the complex mosaic of work meanings.