The relationship between secure workplace attachment and environmental satisfaction: a longitudinal study

The construct of place attachment is crucial in the relationship between people and their satisfaction with their work environment, but there are still few studies on it. This study aims to verify through a longitudinal design with a sample of healthcare workers in an Italian hospital (N = 110 at Time 2) whether secure workplace attachment is a predictor of environmental satisfaction. A self-report questionnaire, including measures such as Workplace Attachment Style Scale and the Satisfaction with the Work Environment Scale, was administered to participants, and the collected data were then analyzed by using structural equation modeling. Specifically, three models were tested for hypothesis verification, i.e.the first one where secure job attachment is a predictor of environmental satisfaction, the second one concerning the inverse model, and finally the third being a reciprocal model. Results show that only the first model is statistically significant, evidencing that a secure workplace attachment style enhances environmental satisfaction over time. This finding witnesses the pivotal role of positive emotional bonds for feeling good in the workplace, and provides actionable insights for targeted design and management interventions to boost healthcare workers’ well-being.