Work Satisfaction

METHODS NOTES SPECIFIC TO THIS PAGE:

This binary logistic regression analysis seeks to understand which factors are most likely to result in participants responding that they were satisfied with their work situation overall. For the purposes of this analysis, every variable was converted into a binary response (either yes or no). As such, the attitude variables included in this analysis refer to a generalized agreement with the statement and not necessarily the strength of respondents' agreement with that particular statement. 749 responses were collected in this study; all 749 cases of data were utilized in this analysis.

Model 1: Gender

When considering the influence of gender by itself, all three gender categories that were assessed had an increased likelihood of responding that they were satisfied with their working situation than the group held as point of comparison (men). Women were roughly 85% more likely than men to report satisfaction with their working conditions. While nonbinary respondents were 78% more likely than men to report satisfaction with their working conditions, respondents who were from other gender identity groups were roughly 236% more likely to report satisfaction.

Model 2: Gender & Sexuality

When considering gender and sexuality simultaneously, the only variables which had statistically significant results were those for women and participants from other gender identity groups. Trends indicated that these variables generally all held positive relationships with the dependent variable (satisfaction with working situation) - the following groups were more likely to report satisfaction than men or heterosexual respondents: women (73% more likely), nonbinary respondents (60% more likely), other gender identities (203% more likely), bisexuals (20% more likely), and other sexual identities (2% more likely). Gay and lesbian respondents were generally 2% less likely to report satisfaction with their working conditions than heterosexual participants.

Model 3: Gender, Sexuality, & Race

When race is added to the analysis, very few variables have statistically significant results. Women and other gender identities maintain their statistical significance in this model, and are joined by the significant findings presented by South Asian, West Asian, and Other Racial/Ethnic groups. Trends which were present among gender and sexual identity groups suggest the declining impact of those identities on participants' satisfaction with their working conditions.

Likelihood of reporting satisfaction among many of these groups had declined across these models, with women (65% more likely than men), nonbinary participants (46% more likely than men), participants from other gender identity groups (184% more likely than men), and bisexuals (15% more likely than straight participants) reporting smaller trends than in model 2. Conversely, the likelihood of reporting satisfaction among gay and lesbian participants (<1% more likely than straight participants), and participants from other sexual identity groups (5% more likely than straight participants) rose slightly between models two and three, reporting positive changes in the trends they display.

Among the racial and ethnic groups represented, trends generally indicate slightly lower likelihoods of reporting satisfaction with their work situation compared to White respondents; Arab, Black, and Latinx or Hispanic participants were all less than 10% less likely than White participants to report work satisfaction, and Native or Indigenous participants were roughly 30% less likely to report work satisfaction than White respondents. While these trends are illuminating and impactful for the individuals which experience these inequalities, the lack of statistical significance for these groups suggests that inequalities within these particular trends may be more individualized (rather than based upon group membership). Asian respondents (as well as respondents from other racial or ethnic groups) were notable exceptions to this, with specific communities of Asian respondents displaying significant (and varied) levels of predicted satisfaction with their work situations. East Asian participants were roughly 45% more likely than White participants to report work satisfaction, South Asian participants were roughly 412% more likely to report satisfaction than White participants, and West Asian participants were roughly 560% more likely to report work satisfaction than White participants. Among the various Asian identities accounted for, however, the only group with statistically significant findings were the South Asian participants. Similarly, while participants from other racial and ethnic groups were roughly 80% more likely than White participants to report work satisfaction, their findings are only approaching statistical significance.

Model 4: Gender, Sexuality, Race, and Job within the Industry

After adding control variables which account for participants' occupation within the comics industry, trends which were present for the various axes of identity in model 3 are weakened - but not erased.

When considering the axis of gender, women were still 54% more likely to report satisfaction than men, with this finding approaching statistical significance. Other genders were still 177% more likely than men to report work satisfaction; this finding is statistically significant. Nonbinary participants were 60% more likely than men to report satisfaction with their work situations, but this finding was not statistically significant.

When considering sexuality, none of the findings were statistically significant: gay and lesbian participants were 11% less likely to report satisfaction with their work (compared to heterosexual participants), Bisexuals were 13% more likely to report satisfaction, and other sexualities 6% less likely to report work satisfaction than heterosexual participants.

The majority of racial/ethnic groups accounted for in this model yielded findings which were not statistically significant. While native and indigenous (45% less) participants, and Latinx or Hispanic (11% less) respondents were both less likely than their White counterparts to report work satisfaction, Arab (37% more), Black (14% more), and East Asian (54% more) participants displayed higher likelihoods of reporting satisfaction with their work situations. South Asian participants were the only racial or ethnic group with statistically significant results, being roughly 322% more likely than White participants to report satisfaction with their work. While West Asian (570% more), and other races (97% more) also displayed higher likelihoods of reporting work satisfaction than White workers, results for these groups are only approaching statistical significance.

Many of the occupational variables accounted for in this model yielded findings which were not statistically significant: writers, pencillers, letterers, colorists, and editors were each between 10 & 25% more likely to be satisfied than folks without a job in industry; inkers were 35% less likely to be satisfied; concept artists were 3% more likely to be satisfied; and participants with other jobs in the comics industry were 3% less likely to be satisfied with their work than those who do not primarily work in comics. The only occupation within comics which yielded statistically significant results were those for translators, who were 140% more likely to report work satisfaction than those without job in industry. While cover artists were roughly 50% more likely to be satisfied with their work than those without a job in comics, this finding is only approaching statistical significance.

Model 5: Gender, Sexuality, Race, Job within the Industry, and Attitude Variables

The final model of this analysis incorporates control variables which reflect participants attitudes about specific issues they face as workers. In this model, none of the gender identities yielded significant results; women were 24% less likely to report satisfaction than men, nonbinary were 28% less likely, and other genders were 29% more likely to report satisfaction than men.

Similar trends were noted around sexuality in this model. While gay and lesbian participants were 42% less likely to report satisfaction with work than heterosexual participants, bisexuals were 14% less likely to report satisfaction, and other sexualities were 18% less likely. None of these findings were statistically significant.

Among the variables which represent Race and Ethnic identity, only one yielded a significant finding: South Asian participants were 882% more likely to report satisfaction with their work situations. Other races' findings not statistically significant, despite the trends present in their results: indigenous participants were roughly 50% less likely to report satisfaction with work than White participants, Arab participants were roughly 13% more likely to report satisfaction, Black participants were roughly 29% less likely, Latinx and Hispanic participants were roughly 20% less likely to report satisfaction, East Asian participants were 50% more likely to report satisfaction, West Asian participants were roughly 168% more likely to report satisfaction, and other races were roughly 52% more likely to report work satisfaction compared to White respondents.

When considering the impact of occupations within comics, only one significant finding was present: Translators were roughly 5% more likely to report satisfaction with their work than those who do not work in comics. While the findings for other occupations were not statistically significant, they illuminate trends which may be anecdotally or individually impactful. Among these findings, writers were 9% less likely to report satisfaction than those who work outside of comics, pencillers were 4% more likely to report satisfaction, inkers were 22% less likely to report satisfaction with their work, colorists were roughly 20% more likely to report satisfaction with their work, editors were 6% more likely to report work satisfaction, concept artists were 31% more likely to report satisfaction, cover artists were 28% more likely to report satisfaction with their work, designers were 42% more likely to report satisfaction with their work, and other jobs within the comics industry were 2% less likely to report satisfaction with their work situations.

While the majority of control variables yielded results which were not statistically significant, the various attitudinal variables presented findings which generally held a high level of statistical significance. Feeling anxious about the future resulted in participants being 60% less likely to report satisfaction with their work situations. Conversely, having plans for retirement resulted in participants being roughly 102% more likely to report satisfaction with their work. Opportunities for creative fulfillment resulted in participants being 237% more likely to report work satisfaction, while feeling in control of their careers resulted in participants being 275% more likely to report satisfaction with their work. Fair compensation resulted in participants being 83% more likely to report satisfaction with their work, while being given enough time to work results in participants being 75% more likely to report satisfaction with their work situations. While not statistically significant, the final two control variables, pride in work and creative freedom resulted in increased likelihoods of work satisfaction by 78% and 13% respectively.