This study was the first of its kind to investigate the job satisfaction, job commitment, and self-actualization of funeral directors. A Canadian sample of 149 funeral directors responded to a 293-item mail questionnaire covering such areas as biographical data, self-esteem, death anxiety, career preference for the funeral directing profession, perceived productivity within the profession, job satisfaction, self-actualization satiation, and job commitment. Analyses indicated that funeral directors appear to have low levels of career preference for this occupation, perceived low productivity of members, and moderate job satisfaction and job commitment. The major reason cited for remaining in the funeral-directing profession was their perceived personal growth and social need returns relative to their personal and financial investments.
Dealing with the Dead: Life as a Third-Generation Independent Funeral Director