The search for meaning in (new) work: Task significance and newcomer plasticity

Using temporally-lagged data from 146 business and engineering newcomers, we found evidence for a “positive side” of plasticity theory (Brockner, 1988, p. 547) in fostering newcomer adjustment. Specifically, as predicted, we found that higher newcomer generalized self-efficacy positively moderates the association between job design (i.e., task significance of the newcomer's job) and newcomer attitudes (in our study, organizational...