Abstract
ABSTRACT Previous studies on sectoral choice have examined environmental and genetic factors in isolation, with little consideration of how gene-environment interactions influence public service employment selection. Notably, altruism-related genes have been found to play a critical role in shaping prosocial behaviors. This study investigates how early traumatic experiences affect individuals’ choice of public service employment through the mediating role of religious participation. It further investigates whether the altruism-related gene moderates the effect of early traumatic experience on religious participation, thereby establishing a moderated mediation model. Using a nationally representative UK dataset, we find that religious participation mediates the relationship between traumatic experiences and public service employment selection. Additionally, individuals carrying more alleles of the altruism-related gene exhibit greater sensitivity to traumatic experiences, which in turn influences their religious participation and subsequent career choice.
Evidence for Practice Gene-environment (G-E) interaction framework underscore that individual behaviors are shaped by the complex interactions between genes and environmental factors over time. While genetic predispositions help explain individual differences in the choice of public service employment, G-E interaction effects highlight the need for public managers to assess how socialization practices mitigate or amplify innate tendencies. Public organizations could consider implementing trauma-informed recruitment strategies, like mental health support and mentorship programs, to attract candidates with early trauma who might otherwise avoid public service.