Diet quality and job satisfaction in Chilean workers: Mediating role of food-related life and family satisfaction

Introduction: Work significantly impacts life satisfaction. Identifying factors that boost job satisfaction is important for workers, their families, and the workplace. This study examined the serial mediating role of satisfaction with food as well as family satisfaction in the relationship between diet quality and job satisfaction among workers. Method: An online questionnaire was applied to 215 women and 215 men with paid employment in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile, which included the Adapted Healthy Eating Index, the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Food Satisfaction Scale, and the Family Satisfaction Scale. The statistical analysis considered a serial mediation model with a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: No significant direct relationship was found between diet quality and job satisfaction. Diet quality showed a direct and positive relationship with food-related life satisfaction, which played a significant mediating role in the relationship between diet quality and job satisfaction. Family satisfaction was not significantly related to diet quality, nor did it mediate this relationship, although it was significantly associated with food-related life satisfaction. Diet quality and job satisfaction were indirectly linked through satisfaction with food-related life and family, which played a significant role in mediating this relationship. Conclusion: Satisfaction with food played a significant mediating role in the relationship between diet quality and job satisfaction. Although family satisfaction did not have a direct mediating role, it is suggested that policies be implemented to improve diet quality and support workers’ families, thereby increasing job satisfaction.