A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between General Mental Ability and Attitudes

We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between general mental ability (GMA) and both job and life attitudes. Drawing on the gravitation model and self- determination theory, we hypothesized that GMA will be positively related to both job and life attitudes, and that the relationships will be mediated by job complexity and incomes. The meta-analytic results provided mixed support for the hypothesized zero-order relationships, as the magnitude of the correlations of GMA with both job and life attitudes were relatively small ( = .14 or less). However, the meta-analytic regression results provided strong support for the hypothesized indirect effects of GMA on work and life attitudes. Specifically, GMA had a positive indirect effect on both job satisfaction and life attitudes through the mediating effects of job complexity; additionally, GMA had a positive indirect effect on life attitudes through the mediating effects of income. Our findings generally discounted the popular folk notion that ...