PROFILES OF RESOURCE MAINTENANCE: A PERSON-CENTERED EXAMINATION OF SOC STRATEGIES

摘要

The current study takes a person-centered approach to explore sub-populations of individuals who use selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) strategies at work. Using latent profile analysis, we identify an overarching 3-profile solution. Specifically, we identify, (1) average SOC users, (2) optimizers and compensators, and (3) non-SOC users. We find that the “optimize and compensate” profile contains generally older individuals. To explore further, we created SOC profiles among a sample of older workers - finding a 2-profile solution for individuals over the age of 45. Considering older workers, we found that a majority engage an average level of SOC, while a smaller group is distinctly characterized by the “optimize and compensate” pattern. We tested all profile structures for group differences across several work-role, family-role, and affective outcomes. Our findings suggest that while SOC strategies are consistently associated with positive outcomes, individuals can successfully apply these strategies in different ways.