Effects of expectancy-value, attitudes, and use of the Internet on psychological empowerment experienced by Chinese women at the workplace

Abstract

The effects of Chinese women’s attitudes and their expected values toward the Internet, their innovativeness, use of information technologies, and demographics on psychological empowerment were examined in this exploratory research. Data from 357 Chinese women at the workplace, aged 28 or above, indicate that age, attitudes towards the Internet, expected values from Internet use (such as socialization, connectivity, and surveillance), innovativeness, and e-mail use are significant predictors for psychological empowerment experienced by women. Specifically, innovative women, who use e-mail, consider the Internet can help them socialize, though not frequent newspaper readers are those who believe that they have significant influence and control at the work place. Competent and self-assured women are those with positive attitude toward the Internet, believe the Internet can provide surveillance function, and read online newspapers regularly. Furthermore, heavy mobile phone women users are those who find meaningfulness in their work, or believe in and care about what they do. Finally, women who believed that the Internet could satisfy their information-seeking needs are those who can, through independent or self-determined behavior, affect organizational results. Implications for future research and theoretical extension are discussed.