Transfer and Well-Being

Investigated the relationship between job transfer mobility and well-being of 350 mobile male employees (aged 25-60 yrs), their wives, and their children. Ss, all of whom had been transferred domestically by a US corporation, were compared with 3 samples drawn from the 1977 Quality of Employment Survey, the 1978 Quality of American Life Survey, and the 1976 Mental Health Survey. Ss were assessed on variables of work, self, marriage and family life, friendships, and standard of living. The major finding, repeated across aspects of well-being, was that there were few differences between more and less mobile and stable Ss. Mobile Ss and their wives were more satisfied with their lives, families, and marriages than were stable Ss and their wives; however, mobile Ss and their wives were less satisfied with social relationships. Moving created problems for children, but there was little evidence that mobility was related to lasting social integration problems.